HyperDic: refine

English > 6 senses of the word refine:
VERBchangerefine, polish, fine-tune, downimprove or perfect by pruning or polishing
changerefine, complicate, rarify, elaboratemake more complex, intricate, or richer
changerefinetreat or prepare so as to put in a usable condition
changerefine, rectifyreduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state
changerefineattenuate or reduce in vigor, strength, or validity by polishing or purifying
changerefinemake more precise or increase the discriminatory powers of
refine > pronunciation
Soundsrahfay'n; rihfay'n
Rhymesaffine ... wine: 145 rhymes with ayn...
English > refine: 6 senses > verb 1, change
Meaningimprove or perfect by pruning or polishing.
PatternSomebody ----s something; Somebody ----s somebody; Something ----s somebody
Example"refine one's style of writing"
Synonymspolish, fine-tune, down
Narrowereducate, school, train, cultivate, civilize, civiliseTeach or refine to be discriminative in taste or judgment
overrefine, over-refinerefine too much or with excess of subtlety
Broaderbetter, improve, amend, ameliorate, meliorateTo make better
Spanishafinar, perfeccionar, pulimentar, pulir, refinar
Catalanafinar, polir, refinar
Nounsrefinementthe result of improving something
refinementa highly developed state of perfection
refinerone whose work is to refine a specific thing
English > refine: 6 senses > verb 2, change
Meaningmake more complex, intricate, or richer.
PatternSomebody ----s something; Something ----s something
Example"refine a design or pattern"
Synonymscomplicate, rarify, elaborate
Narrowerdevelopelaborate by the unfolding of a musical idea and by the working out of the rhythmic and harmonic changes in the theme
involvemake complex or intricate or complicated
sophisticatemake more complex or refined
Broaderchange, alter, modifyCause to change
Spanishcomplicar, refinar
Catalancomplicar, elaborar, refinar
English > refine: 6 senses > verb 3, change
Meaningtreat or prepare so as to put in a usable condition.
PatternSomebody ----s something; Something ----s something
Examples
  • "refine paper stock"
  • "refine pig iron"
  • "refine oil"
Broaderprocess, treatsubject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition
Nounsrefinementthe process of removing impurities (as from oil or metals or sugar etc.)
refinerone whose work is to refine a specific thing
refineryan industrial plant for purifying a crude substance
English > refine: 6 senses > verb 4, change
MeaningReduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; separate from extraneous matter or cleanse from impurities.
PatternSomebody ----s something; Something ----s something
Example"refine sugar"
Synonymrectify
Broaderpurify, sublimate, make pure, distillRemove impurities from, increase the concentration of, and separate through the process of distillation
Spanishrefinar
Catalanrefinar
Nounsrefinerone whose work is to refine a specific thing
refining, refinementthe process of removing impurities (as from oil or metals or sugar etc.)
English > refine: 6 senses > verb 5, change
Meaningattenuate or reduce in vigor, strength, or validity by polishing or purifying.
PatternSomebody ----s something; Something ----s something
Example"many valuable nutrients are refined out of the foods in our modern diet"
BroaderattenuateBecome weaker, in strength, value, or magnitude
Spanishrefinar
English > refine: 6 senses > verb 6, change
Meaningmake more precise or increase the discriminatory powers of.
PatternSomebody ----s something; Something ----s something
Examples
  • "refine a method of analysis"
  • "refine the constant in the equation"
Broaderchange, alter, modifyCause to change
Nounsrefinementa subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude

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