4 VERB If you say that your brain or your mind is reeling , you mean that you are very confused because you have too many things to think about. □ [V + at ] His mind reeled at the question.
▸ reel in PHRASAL VERB If you reel in something such as a fish, you pull it towards you by winding around a reel the wire or line that it is attached to. □ [V P n] Gleacher reeled in the first fish. [Also V n P ]
▸ reel off PHRASAL VERB If you reel off information, you repeat it from memory quickly and easily. □ [V P n] She reeled off the titles of a dozen or so of the novels. [Also V n P ]
re -ele ct (re-elects , re-electing , re-elected ) in AM, also use reelect VERB When someone such as a politician or an official who has been elected is re-elected , they win another election and are therefore able to continue in their position as, for example, president or an official in an organization. □ [be V -ed] The president will pursue lower taxes if he is re-elected. □ [be V -ed n] He was re-elected president for a third successive term. □ [be V -ed + as ] He was overwhelmingly re-elected as party leader. ● re -ele ction N‑UNCOUNT □ I would like to see him stand for re-election.
re -ena ct (re-enacts , re-enacting , re-enacted ) also reenact VERB If you re-enact a scene or incident, you repeat the actions that occurred in the scene or incident. □ [V n] He re-enacted scenes from his TV series.
re -ena ctment (re-enactments ) N‑COUNT When a re-enactment of a scene or incident takes place, people re-enact it.
re-e nter (re-enters , re-entering , re-entered ) in AM, also use reenter VERB If you re-enter a place, organization, or area of activity that you have left, you return to it. □ [V n] Ten minutes later he re-entered the hotel.
re-e ntry in AM, also use reentry 1 N‑UNCOUNT Re-entry is the act of returning to a place, organization, or area of activity that you have left. □ The house has been barred and bolted to prevent re-entry.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Re-entry is used to refer to the moment when a spacecraft comes back into the Earth's atmosphere after being in space. □ The station would burn up on re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere.
re -exa mine (re-examines , re-examining , re-examined ) in AM, also use reexamine VERB If a person or group of people re-examines their ideas, beliefs, or attitudes, they think about them carefully because they are no longer sure if they are correct. □ [V n] Her family will also have to re-examine their expectations. ● re-examination (re-examinations ) N‑VAR □ [+ of ] It was time for a re-examination of the situation.
ref /re f/ (refs )
1 Ref. is an abbreviation for reference . It is written in front of a code at the top of business letters and documents. The code refers to a file where all the letters and documents about the same matter are kept. [BUSINESS ] □ Our Ref: JAH/JW.
2 N‑COUNT The ref in a sports game, such as football or boxing, is the same as the referee . [INFORMAL ] □ The ref gave a penalty and Zidane scored.
re|fec|tory /r I fe ktəri/ (refectories ) N‑COUNT A refectory is a large room in a school, university, or other institution, where meals are served and eaten.
re|fer ◆◆◇ /r I fɜː r / (refers , referring , referred )
1 VERB If you refer to a particular subject or person, you talk about them or mention them. □ [V + to ] In his speech, he referred to a recent trip to Canada.
2 VERB If you refer to someone or something as a particular thing, you use a particular word, expression, or name to mention or describe them. □ [V + to ] Marcia had referred to him as a dear friend.
3 VERB If a word refers to a particular thing, situation, or idea, it describes it in some way. □ [V + to ] The term electronics refers to electrically-induced action.
4 VERB [usu passive] If a person who is ill is referred to a hospital or a specialist, they are sent there by a doctor in order to be treated. □ [be V -ed + to ] Patients are mostly referred to hospital by their general practitioners. □ [be V -ed] The patient should be referred for tests immediately.
5 VERB If you refer a task or a problem to a person or an organization, you formally tell them about it, so that they can deal with it. □ [V n + to ] He could refer the matter to the high court.
6 VERB If you refer someone to a person or organization, you send them there for the help they need. □ [V n + to ] Now and then I referred a client to him.
7 VERB If you refer to a book or other source of information, you look at it in order to find something out. □ [V + to ] He referred briefly to his notebook.
8 VERB If you refer someone to a source of information, you tell them the place where they will find the information which they need or which you think will interest them. □ [V n + to ] Mr Bryan also referred me to a book by the American journalist Anthony Scaduto. SYNONYMS refer VERB 1
mention: She did not mention her mother's absence.
allude to: She also alluded to her rival's past marital troubles.
bring up: Why are you bringing it up now?
touch on: The film touches on these issues, but only superficially.