referee

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. One to whom something is referred, especially for settlement, decision, or an opinion as to the thing's quality.
2. n. Sports & Games An official supervising the play; an umpire.
3. n. Law A person appointed by a court to make a determination of a case or to investigate and make a report on it. See Synonyms at judge.
4. v. To judge as referee.
5. v. To act as referee.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. One to whom something is referred; especially, a person to whom a matter in dispute has been referred for settlement or decision; an arbitrator; an umpire.
2. n. Specifically, in law, a person selected by the court or parties under authority of law to try a cause in place of the court, or to examine and report on a question in aid of the court, or to perform some function involving judicial or quasi-judicial powers. Synonyms Umpire, Arbitrator, etc. See judge, n.
3. To preside over as referee or umpire.

Wiktionary

1. n. sports An umpire or judge; the official who makes sure the rules are followed during a game
2. n. A person who settles a dispute
3. n. A person who writes a letter of reference or provides a reference by phone call for someone
4. n. An expert who judges the manuscript of an article or book to decide if it should be published
5. v. To act as a referee.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. One to whom a thing is referred; a person to whom a matter in dispute has been referred, in order that he may settle it.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. someone who reads manuscripts and judges their suitability for publication
2. n. an attorney appointed by a court to investigate and report on a case
3. v. be a referee or umpire in a sports competition
4. v. evaluate professionally a colleague's work
5. n. (sports) the chief official (as in boxing or American football) who is expected to ensure fair play