| English Dictionary |
REFEREE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does referee mean?
• REFEREE (noun)
The noun REFEREE has 3 senses:
1. (sports) the chief official (as in boxing or American football) who is expected to ensure fair play
2. someone who reads manuscripts and judges their suitability for publication
3. an attorney appointed by a court to investigate and report on a case
Familiarity information: REFEREE used as a noun is uncommon.
• REFEREE (verb)
The verb REFEREE has 2 senses:
1. be a referee or umpire in a sports competition
2. evaluate professionally a colleague's work
Familiarity information: REFEREE used as a verb is rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
(sports) the chief official (as in boxing or American football) who is expected to ensure fair play
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Synonyms:
ref; referee
Hypernyms ("referee" is a kind of...):
official (someone who administers the rules of a game or sport)
Domain category:
athletics; sport (an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition)
Derivation:
refer (send or direct for treatment, information, or a decision)
referee (be a referee or umpire in a sports competition)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Someone who reads manuscripts and judges their suitability for publication
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Synonyms:
Hypernyms ("referee" is a kind of...):
critic (anyone who expresses a reasoned judgment of something)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "referee"):
scanner (someone who scans verse to determine the number and prosodic value of the syllables)
Derivation:
refer (send or direct for treatment, information, or a decision)
referee (evaluate professionally a colleague's work)
Sense 3
Meaning:
An attorney appointed by a court to investigate and report on a case
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Hypernyms ("referee" is a kind of...):
attorney; lawyer (a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice)
Domain category:
jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)
| Conjugation: |
... he / she / it referees Past simple: refereed
Past participle: refereed
-ing form: refereeing
Sense 1
Meaning:
Be a referee or umpire in a sports competition
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Synonyms:
referee; umpire
Hypernyms (to "referee" is one way to...):
judge (determine the result of (a competition))
Domain category:
athletics; sport (an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
referee ((sports) the chief official (as in boxing or American football) who is expected to ensure fair play)
refereeing (the act of umpiring)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Evaluate professionally a colleague's work
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
peer review; referee
Hypernyms (to "referee" is one way to...):
critique; review (appraise critically)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
referee (someone who reads manuscripts and judges their suitability for publication)
Context examples
“I have been asked to be sole referee in this matter,” said he.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
These referees each return an evaluation of the work, including suggestions for improvement.
(Peer Review, NCI Thesaurus)
There's your referee.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
“That is a question which lies with the referee,” said Craven, firmly.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
In this abstruse pursuit; in making an account for Peggotty, of all the property into which she had come; in arranging all the affairs in an orderly manner; and in being her referee and adviser on every point, to our joint delight; I passed the week before the funeral.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
No person can be allowed at the inner ropes save the referee and the timekeeper.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
We know who it is and so do our opponents, but the referees and stakeholder would take no notice of that.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
“I fear it is pay or play. No doubt the point might be submitted to the referees, but I cannot doubt that they would have to give it against you.”
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
As referee I order that the men be withdrawn, and that the stakes be returned to their owners.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
“I appeal to the referee!” cried Sir Lothian Hume.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
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