refer vs stand for

refer and stand for both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
refer	No	No	Yes	No
stand for	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, stand for is a hypernym of refer; that is, stand for is a word with a broader meaning than refer:

Other hypernyms of refer include intend, mean, signify.

refer (verb)	stand for (verb)
think of, regard, or classify under a subsuming principle or with a general group or in relation to another	tolerate or bear
have as a meaning	denote or connote
make reference to	express indirectly by an image, form, or model; be a symbol
use a name to designate	take the place of or be parallel or equivalent to
seek information from
send or direct for treatment, information, or a decision
be relevant to