rarefaction

Variant of rarefy

rarefy definition

rar·efy (rer′ə fī′)

transitive verb, intransitive verb rarefied -·fied′, rarefying -·fy′·ing

  1. to make or become thin, or less dense the rarefied mountain air
  2. to make or become more refined, subtle, or lofty a rarefied sense of humor

Etymology: ME rarefien < MFr rarefier < L rarefacere < rarus, rare + facere, to make, do

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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