refine
Pronunciation
  • IPA: /ɹɪˈfaɪn/
Verb

refine (refines, present participle refining; past and past participle refined)

  1. (transitive) To purify; reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; to free from impurities.
    to refine gold
    to refine iron
    to refine wine
    to refine sugar
  2. (intransitive) To become pure; to be cleared of impure matter.
  3. (transitive) To purify of coarseness, vulgarity, inelegance, etc.; to polish.
    to refine someone's manners
    to refine a language
    a refined style
    to refine one's tastes
  4. (ambitransitive) To improve in accuracy, delicacy, or excellence.
  5. (transitive) To make nice or subtle.
    to refine thought
    to refine someone's language
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