al·lude
(ə-lōōd́)
[Latin allūdere, to play with, ad-, ad-, + lūdere, to play (from lūdus, game; see leid-).]
intransitive verb: -lud·ed, -lud·ing, -ludes.
- To make an indirect reference: The candidate alluded to the recent war by saying, “We've all made sacrifices.”
usage note
Usage Note: Allude and allusion are often used where the more general terms refer and reference would be preferable. Allude and allusion normally apply to indirect references in which the source is not specifically identified: “Well, we'll always have Paris,” he told the travel agent, in an allusion to Refer and reference, unless qualified, usually imply specific mention of a source: I will refer tofor my conclusion: As Polonius says, “Though this be madness, yet there is method in't.” See Usage Note at: refer
