 refine |
||
| 1. | [ verb ] improve or perfect by pruning or polishing | |
| Synonyms: | polish down fine-tune | |
| Examples: | "refine one's style of writing" |
|
| Related terms: | better educate | |
| 2. | [ verb ] improve or perfect by pruning or polishing | |
| Synonyms: | burnish polish down fine-tune gloss | |
| Examples: | "refine one's style of writing" |
|
| Related terms: | better decorate educate over-refine gloss_over whitewash polish rub | |
| 3. | [ verb ] make more complex, intricate, or richer | |
| Synonyms: | complicate elaborate rarify | |
| Examples: | "refine a design or pattern" |
|
| Related terms: | change involve develop sophisticate complication refinement complicatedness | |
| 4. | [ verb ] (chemistry) reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; separate from extraneous matter or cleanse from impurities | |
| Synonyms: | rectify | |
| Examples: | "refine sugar" |
|
| Related terms: | purify rectification refining | |
| 5. | [ verb ] treat or prepare so as to put in a usable condition | |
| Examples: | "refine paper stock" "refine pig iron" "refine oil" |
|
| Related terms: | process refining | |
| 6. | [ verb ] attenuate or reduce in vigor, strength, or validity by polishing or purifying | |
| Examples: | "many valuable nutrients are refined out of the foods in our modern diet" |
|
| Related terms: | attenuate | |
| 7. | [ verb ] make more precise or increase the discriminatory powers of | |
| Examples: | "refine a method of analysis" "refine the constant in the equation" |
|
| Related terms: | change nuance | |
| Similar spelling: |
repine |
|
