consult
v.v. to ask an expert for advice or to look for information in a book or map. You do this when you need to make a good decision.
v. to seek information or professional advice from a qualified source; to refer to a document or reference work for data. Transitive when seeking advice from a person or source; intransitive when used with 'with' to describe a mutual discussion.
You should consult a doctor before starting this diet.
The architect had to consult the original blueprints several times to ensure the renovation was safe.
Before finalizing the merger, the board of directors must consult with legal counsel to mitigate any potential regulatory risks associated with the acquisition.
From Middle French consulte. In sense “council”, it represents Latin cōnsultum, Italian consulto; and it may have been often taken as a direct formation from the verb.
From Middle French consulter, from Latin cōnsultō (“to deliberate, consult”), frequentative of cōnsulō (“to consult, deliberate, consider, reflect upon, ask advice”), from com- (“together”) + -sulō, from Proto-Indo-European *selh₁- (“to take, grab”).
Takes a direct object when seeking information ('consult a map'); takes 'with' when engaging in a collaborative discussion ('consult with a colleague').
I need to consult to my lawyerI need to consult my lawyerWhen seeking advice from a person, the verb is transitive and does not require 'to'.