The latter two articles are used for nouns referring to objects or things.

The surface does not strictly refer to such objects.

The new word is assumed to refer to other objects within the same taxonomic category.

Kinetic energy is the energy which refers to moving objects.

The temporal series refers to objects and events in time (as opposed to space).

Refers to activities, events, objects, and people that are not present.

It came to refer to objects that were perceived to be interesting enough to spark conversation about them.

They are meaningless when referred to objects that cannot be experienced.

Referring to objects and the items on cards or backgrounds was easy.