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refine
[ ri-fahyn ]
verb (used with object)
- to bring to a fine or a pure state; free from impurities:
to refine metal, sugar, or petroleum.
- to purify from what is coarse, vulgar, or debasing; make elegant or cultured.
- to bring to a finer state or form by purifying.
- to make more fine, subtle, or precise:
to refine one's writing style.
verb (used without object)
- to become pure:
The silver is refining in the furnace.
- to become more fine, elegant, or polished:
His parents hope that his manners will refine as he gets older.
- to make fine distinctions in thought or language.
verb phrase
- to improve by inserting finer distinctions, superior elements, etc.:
to refine on one's previous work.
refine
/ ɪˈڲɪ /
verb
- to make or become free from impurities, sediment, or other foreign matter; purify
- tr to separate (a mixture) into pure constituents, as in an oil refinery
- to make or become free from coarse characteristics; make or become elegant or polished
- troften foll byout to remove (something impure or extraneous)
- intr; often foll by on or upon to enlarge or improve (upon) by making subtle or fine distinctions
- tr to make (language) more subtle or polished
Derived Forms
- ˈھԲ, adjective
Other Word Forms
- ·ھa· adjective
- ·ھİ noun
- r·ھԱ verb (used with object) prerefined prerefining
- -·ھiԲ adjective
- p··ھԱ verb (used with object) superrefined superrefining
- ܲr·ھiԲ adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of refine1
Example Sentences
Rare earths are a group of 17 elements - named "rare" because they are notoriously difficult to extract and refine.
Avoid cheaper brands that use refined oils, like vegetable, sunflower and soybean oils, as they’re skimping on both quality and taste.
He continued his studies in Boston at Berklee College of Music and began to refine his sound when he came home to Italy.
China can weaponise, however, is its near monopoly in extracting and refining rare earths, a range of elements important to advanced tech manufacturing.
For the last 50 years, the filmmaker has sat in his office every day at 8 a.m. to write — a process he used to refine his latest one-man script as well.
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