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refine Definition

re·fine (ri fīn)

transitive verb -·fined, -·fin·ing

  1. to make fine or pure; free from impurities, dross, alloy, sediment, etc.; purify; clarify
  2. to free from imperfection, coarseness, crudeness, etc.; make more elegant or cultivated; impart polish to
  3. to make more subtle or precise

Etymology: re- + fine, v., based on Fr raffiner, to purify

intransitive verb

  1. to become fine or pure; become free from impurities, etc.
  2. to become more polished or elegant
  3. to use subtleties and fine distinctions in thinking or speaking

refine Related Forms
re·finer noun
refine Idioms

refine on

or refine upon

to improve, as by adding refinements

refine Synonyms

refine

v.

  1. To purify

    rarefy, strain, filter, clarify; see clean, filter 2, purify.

  2. To improve

    perfect, polish, cultivate, hone; see civilize, improve 1, sharpen 2.

refine Usage Examples

Object

  • search: To refine the search, add more words to narrow down.
  • methodology: At the time of our second report, ONS was working on refining the methodology used to provide estimates of numbers in low pay.
  • parameter: A background function should be included in the model, and its parameters refined.
  • texture: Discover the Pore Refining Peel-off mask that eliminates your skins impurities and smoothes and refines the texture of your skin!
  • mesh: Adaptive meshing automatically refines meshes in high stress areas without the rest of the mesh having to be refined.
  • technique: Some use highly refined encryption techniques, which means they cannot be overheard.

Preposition: on

  • basis: These initial lists of types were then refined on the basis of new dedicated field surveys, data analyzes and field trials.

Subject

  • fire: The most valuable gold has to be refined by fire - to get rid of its impurities.

Modifying Another Word

  • iteratively: This will then be used to iteratively refine the knowledge collection, interpretation and analysis until an acceptable level of representation is achieved.
  • anisotropically: If the structure was refined anisotropically, the orientations and the magnitudes of vibrational ellipsoids should be displayed.
  • progressively: Enterprise goals or Service Level Agreements can be considered as high-level abstract policies which must be progressively refined into implementable policies.
  • continually: Since the more effort placed in these endless observations continually refined those valuable timings.
  • continuously: Curricula are continuously refined to keep ahead of educational developments.
  • gradually: Pieces are gradually refined, working with the arrangement until the desired feeling is created.

Infinitive complement

  • reflect: The flowgraph can be refined to reflect these three regions of code, producing the following flowgraph.
  • ensure: The VRQ has been reviewed and refined to ensure that it reflects the new nutritional standards.
  • produce: Its germ is rich in oil, and can be refined to produce corn oil.

Present participle complement

  • exist: But Williams & Associates Insurance Agency, Inc. he does to refine existing.

Preposition: in

  • light: Any activity can then be refined in light of the publication of the final version in November.

Preposition: by

  • fire: The most valuable gold has to be refined by fire - to get rid of its impurities.
refine Quotes

Then, rising with Aurora's light, The Muse invoked, sit down to write; Blot out, correct, insert, refine, Enlarge, diminish, interline.

—Swift,Jonathan

I have laboured to refine our language to grammatical purity, and to clear it from colloquial barbarisms, licentious idioms, and irregular combinations.

—Johnson, Samuel known as Dr Johnson

Browse dictionary entries near refine

  1. refinance
  2. refill
  3. referring
  4. referred to
  5. referred pain
  6. referral
  7. referential
  8. referent
  9. referendum
  10. Reference Point V
  1. refined
  2. refinement
  3. refinery
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  5. refinish
  6. refinished
  7. refit
  8. refl
  9. reflag
  10. reflate