refine

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[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From re- + fine.

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Verb

Infinitive
to refine

Third person singular
refines

Simple past
refined

Past participle
refined

Present participle
refining

to refine (third-person singular simple present refines, present participle refining, simple past and past participle refined)

  1. To reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; to free from impurities; to free from dross or alloy; to separate from extraneous matter; to purify; as, to refine gold or silver; to refine iron; to refine wine or sugar.
  2. To purify from what is gross, coarse, vulgar, inelegant, low, and the like; to make elegant or excellent; to polish; as, to refine the manners, the language, the style, the taste, the intellect, or the moral feelings.
  3. To become pure; to be cleared of feculent matter.
  4. To improve in accuracy, delicacy, or excellence.
  5. To affect nicety or subtlety in thought or language.

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