1.refer to 涉及；指的是；适用于

Symbols are signs that refer to the object by a convention.
标志是一种人们习惯性指代某种事物的符号。

Slowschools and slow education can refer to different aspects of education.
慢速学校和慢速教育可以指教育的不同方面。

2.play a role 起作用

Fairly full employment may also play a role.
彻底的充分就业也起到作用。

Mr draghi's positive contagion may also play a role.
德拉吉所说的正面效应也在发挥作用。

3.patent office 商务部专利局

The patent office granted apple the patent four years later, in early 2010.
专利局四年后于2010年初授予苹果公司该项专利。

Nonetheless the american patent office controversially allowed firms to patent diagnostics involving single genes.
尽管如此，美国专利局仍很有争议的通过了一些公司针对单基因的诊断方法的专利申请。

4.allow to 允许

Allow to freeze solid for 3-4 hours or overnight.
允许冻结3-4小时或隔夜固体。

Apply solution to the tube and allow to become tacky.
在内胎上涂抹胶水并让它发粘。