Definition of Refrain

1. Noun. The part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers.

Exact synonyms: Chorus
Generic synonyms: Music
Group relationships: Song, Vocal
Specialized synonyms: Tra-la, Tra-la-la
Derivative terms: Choral, Chorus

2. Verb. Resist doing something. "She could not forbear weeping"
Exact synonyms: Forbear
Specialized synonyms: Leave, Leave Alone, Leave Behind, Let It Go, Abstain, Save, Spare, Forbear, Hold Back, Help, Help Oneself, Stand By, Sit Out
Derivative terms: Forbearance
Antonyms: Act

3. Verb. Choose not to consume. "I abstain from alcohol"
Exact synonyms: Abstain, Desist
Specialized synonyms: Fast, Fast, Avoid, Keep Off, Teetotal
Derivative terms: Abstainer, Abstainer, Abstention, Abstinence, Abstinent, Abstinent
Antonyms: Consume

Definition of Refrain

1. v. t. To hold back; to restrain; to keep within prescribed bounds; to curb; to govern.

2. v. i. To keep one's self from action or interference; to hold aloof; to forbear; to abstain.

3. n. The burden of a song; a phrase or verse which recurs at the end of each of the separate stanzas or divisions of a poetic composition.

Definition of Refrain

1. Verb. (transitive archaic) To hold back, to restrain (someone or something). (defdate from 14th c.) ¹

2. Verb. (reflexive archaic) To show restraint; to hold oneself back. (defdate from 14th c.) ¹

3. Verb. (context: transitive now rare) To repress (a desire, emotion etc.); to check or curb. (defdate from 14th c.) ¹

4. Verb. (intransitive) To stop oneself (term from) some action or interference; to abstain. (defdate from 15th c.) ¹

5. Verb. (context: transitive now rare regional) To abstain from (food or drink). (defdate from 16th c.) ¹

6. Noun. The chorus or burden of a song repeated at the end of each verse or stanza. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Refrain

1. to keep oneself back [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Refrain

1. The burden of a song; a phrase or verse which recurs at the end of each of the separate stanzas or divisions of a poetic composition. "We hear the wild refrain." (Whittier) Origin: F. Refrain, fr. OF. Refraindre; cf. Pr. Refranhs a refrain, refranher to repeat. See Refract,Refrain. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Refrain

refractory lining
refractory metal
refractory metals
refractory period of electronic pacemaker
refractory pot
refractory rhyme
refractory rickets
refractory state
refracts
refracture
refractured
refractures
refracturing
refragable
refrain (current term)
refrained
refrainer
refrainers
refrainest
refraineth
refraining
refrainment
refrainments
refrains
reframe
reframed
reframer
reframers
reframes

Literary usage of Refrain

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the by Charles George Herbermann (1913)
"It had come to be no longer a matter of an interjected refrain, ... The refrain, a kind of exclamation foreign to the context, recurring at stated intervals ..."

2. The Medieval Popular Ballad by Edward Godfrey Cox (1914)
"CHAPTER IV THE refrain The refrain is a distinctive characteristic of the ... The first part of such 'a many-jointed refrain can be interpolated in a ..."

3. Publications by Folklore Society (Great Britain) (1907)
"FOLK-SONG refrain. Not long ago I heard the nursery song, "Froggy would a-wooing go," sung in Ripon with the following refrain: ..."

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