Lexic.us

Definition of Refractory

1. Noun. Lining consisting of material with a high melting point; used to line the inside walls of a furnace.

2. Adjective. Not responding to treatment. "Stubborn rust stains"

3. Adjective. Temporarily unresponsive or not fully responsive to nervous or sexual stimuli. "The refractory period of a muscle fiber"

4. Adjective. Stubbornly resistant to authority or control. "A refractory child"

Definition of Refractory

1. a. Obstinate in disobedience; contumacious; stubborn; unmanageable; as, a refractory child; a refractory beast.

2. n. A refractory person.

Definition of Refractory

1. Adjective. Obstinate and unruly; strongly opposed to something. ¹

2. Adjective. Not affected by great heat. ¹

3. Adjective. (medicine) Difficult to treat. ¹

4. Adjective. (biology) Incapable of registering a reaction or stimulus. ¹

5. Noun. A material or piece of material, such as a brick, that has a very high melting point. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Refractory

1. [n -RIES]

Medical Definition of Refractory

1. Not readily yielding to treatment. Origin: L. Refractorius This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology (11 Mar 2008)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Refractory

refractive keratotomy refractively refractiveness refractivities refractivity refractometer refractometers refractometric refractometries refractometry

refractor refractories refractorily refractoriness refractors refractory (current term) refractory-lined refractory anaemia refractory anaemia with excess blasts refractory anemia

refractory cast refractory flask refractory lining refractory metal refractory metals refractory period of electronic pacemaker refractory pot refractory rhyme refractory rickets

Literary usage of Refractory

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

1. Principles of General Physiology by William Maddock Bayliss (1920)
"The refractory state which follows a second effective stimulus, applied during the relative refractory state following a previous stimulus, is shorter than ..."

2. A Text-book of Physiology for Medical Students and Physicians by William Henry Howell (1911)
"Marey denned this refractory period as falling within the first part of the systole, and stated that its duration varies with the actual strength of the ..."

3. A Text-book of Physiology for Medical Students and Physicians by William Henry Howell (1911)
"Marey defined this refractory period as falling within the first part of the systole, and stated that its duration varies with the actual strength of the ..."

4. Biennial report by North Dakota Geological Survey (1906)
"refractory MATERIALS. refractory materials embrace a great variety of clay ... Good refractory material is used for a great number of purposes and in ..."

5. The Integrative Action of the Nervous System by Charles Scott Sherrington (1906)
"Intraspinal seat of the refractory phase of the scratch-reflex. The value of refractory phase in the co-ordination of the swimming of Medusa. ..."

6. The Integrative Action of the Nervous System by Charles Scott Sherrington (1906)
"Intraspinal seat of the refractory phase of the scratch-reflex. The value of refractory phase in the co-ordination of the swimming of ..."

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