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Definition of Refine
1. Verb. Improve or perfect by pruning or polishing. "Refine one's style of writing"
Generic synonyms: Ameliorate, Amend, Better, Improve, Meliorate
Specialized synonyms: Over-refine, Overrefine, Civilise, Civilize, Cultivate, Educate, School, Train
Derivative terms: Polish, Refinement, Refinement, Refiner
2. Verb. Make more complex, intricate, or richer. "Refine a design or pattern"
Generic synonyms: Alter, Change, Modify
Specialized synonyms: Involve, Develop, Sophisticate
Derivative terms: Complication, Complication, Elaboration, Elaboration, Elaboration
3. Verb. Treat or prepare so as to put in a usable condition. "Refine oil"
4. Verb. Reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; separate from extraneous matter or cleanse from impurities. "Refine sugar"
Generic synonyms: Distill, Make Pure, Purify, Sublimate
Derivative terms: Rectification, Refinement, Refiner, Refining
5. Verb. Attenuate or reduce in vigor, strength, or validity by polishing or purifying. "Many valuable nutrients are refined out of the foods in our modern diet"
6. Verb. Make more precise or increase the discriminatory powers of. "Refine the constant in the equation"
Definition of Refine
1. v. t. To reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; to free from impurities; to free from dross or alloy; to separate from extraneous matter; to purify; to defecate; as, to refine gold or silver; to refine iron; to refine wine or sugar.
2. v. i. To become pure; to be cleared of feculent matter.
Definition of Refine
1. to free from impurities [v -FINED, -FINING, -FINES]
Medical Definition of Refine
1. 1. To reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; to free from impurities; to free from dross or alloy; to separate from extraneous matter; to purify; to defecate; as, to refine gold or silver; to refine iron; to refine wine or sugar. "I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined." (Zech. Xiii. 9) 2. To purify from what is gross, coarse, vulgar, inelegant, low, and the like; to make elegant or exellent; to polish; as, to refine the manners, the language, the style, the taste, the intellect, or the moral feelings. "Love refines The thoughts, and heart enlarges." (Milton) Synonym: To purify, clarify, polish, ennoble. Origin: Pref. Re- + fine to make fine: cf. F. Raffiner. 1. To become pure; to be cleared of feculent matter. "So the pure, limpid stream, when foul with stains, Works itself clear, and, as it runs, refines." (Addison) 2. To improve in accuracy, delicacy, or excellence. "Chaucer refined on Boccace, and mended his stories." (Dryden) "But let a lord once own the happy lines, How the wit brightens! How the style refines!" (Pope) 3. To affect nicety or subtilty in thought or language. "He makes another paragraph about our refining in controversy." Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Refine
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