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Meaning of REFINE

Pronunciation:  ri'fIn

WordNet Dictionary
 
 Definition: 
  1. [v]  make more complex, intricate, or richer; "refine a design or pattern"
  2. [v]  make more precise or increase the discriminatory powers of; "refine a method of analysis"; "refine the constant in the equation"
  3. [v]  attenuate or reduce in vigor, strength, or validity by polishing or purifying; "many valuable nutrients are refined out of the foods in our modern diet"
  4. [v]  improve or perfect by pruning or polishing; "refine one's style of writing"
  5. [v]  reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; separate from extraneous matter or cleanse from impurities; "refine sugar"
  6. [v]  treat or prepare so as to put in a usable condition; "refine paper stock"; "refine pig iron"; "refine oil"
 
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 Synonyms: complicate, down, elaborate, fine-tune, polish, rarify, rectify
 
 See Also: alter, ameliorate, amend, attenuate, better, change, civilise, civilize, cultivate, develop, distill, educate, improve, involve, make pure, meliorate, process, purify, school, sophisticate, sublimate, train, treat

 

 

Webster's 1913 Dictionary
 
 Definition: 
  1. \Re*fine"\ (r?*f?n"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Refined}
    (-find"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Refining}.] [Pref. re- + fine to
    make fine: cf. F. raffiner.]
    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; to defecate; as, to refine
       gold or silver; to refine iron; to refine wine or sugar.
             I will bring the third part through the fire, and
             will refine them as silver is refined. --Zech. xiii.
                                                   9.
    2. To purify from what is gross, coarse, vulgar, inelegant,
       low, and the like; to make elegant or exellent; to polish;
       as, to refine the manners, the language, the style, the
       taste, the intellect, or the moral feelings.
             Love refines The thoughts, and heart enlarges.
                                                   --Milton.
    Syn: To purify; clarify; polish; ennoble.
    
  2. \Re*fine"\, v. i.
    1. To become pure; to be cleared of feculent matter.
             So the pure, limpid stream, when foul with stains,
             Works itself clear, and, as it runs, refines.
                                                   --Addison.
    2. To improve in accuracy, delicacy, or excellence.
             Chaucer refined on Boccace, and mended his stories.
                                                   --Dryden.
             But let a lord once own the happy lines, How the wit
             brightens! How the style refines!     --Pope.
    3. To affect nicety or subtilty in thought or language. ``He
       makes another paragraph about our refining in
       controversy.'' --Atterbury.
    
 
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Computing Dictionary
 
 Definition: 

1. "Research on Knowledge-Based Software Environments at Kestrel Institute", D.R. Smith et al, IEEE Trans Soft Eng, SE-11(11) (1985). E-mail: <[email protected]>.

2. Cordell Green et al, Stanford U. Uses logic to specify and evolve programs. Reasoning Systems, Inc. E-mail: <[email protected]>.

 
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