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English verb: refine

1. refine (change) improve or perfect by pruning or polishing


SamplesRefine one's style of writing.


Synonymsdown, fine-tune, polish


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s somebody.
Something ----s somebody


Broader (hypernym)ameliorate, amend, better, improve, meliorate


Narrower (hyponym)civilise, civilize, cultivate, educate, over-refine, overrefine, school, train

2. refine (change) make more complex, intricate, or richer


SamplesRefine a design or pattern.


Synonymscomplicate, elaborate, rarify


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)alter, change, modify


Narrower (hyponym)develop, involve, sophisticate

3. refine (change) treat or prepare so as to put in a usable condition


SamplesRefine paper stock.
Refine pig iron.
Refine oil.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)process, treat

4. refine (change) reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; separate from extraneous matter or cleanse from impurities


SamplesRefine sugar.


Synonymsrectify


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)distill, make pure, purify, sublimate

5. refine (change) attenuate or reduce in vigor, strength, or validity by polishing or purifying


SamplesMany valuable nutrients are refined out of the foods in our modern diet.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)attenuate

6. refine (change) make more precise or increase the discriminatory powers of


SamplesRefine a method of analysis.
Refine the constant in the equation.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)alter, change, modify









Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
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