Meaning of REFINEMENT
| Pronunciation: | | ri'fInmunt
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 WordNet Dictionary |
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| | Definition: | |
- [n] the quality of excellence in thought and manners and taste; "a man of intellectual refinement"; "he is remembered for his generosity and civilization"
- [n] a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude; "without understanding the finer nuances you can't enjoy the humor"; "don't argue about shades of meaning"
- [n] the result of improving something; "he described a refinement of this technique"
- [n] the process of removing impurities (as from oil or metals or sugar etc.)
- [n] a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality; "they performed with great polish"; "I admired the exquisite refinement of his prose"; "almost an inspiration which gives to all work that finish which is almost art"--Joseph Conrad
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| | Synonyms: | | civilisation, civilization, cultivation, culture, elaboration, finish, nicety, nuance, polish, purification, refining, shade, subtlety |
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| | See Also: | | advance, betterment, excellence, flawlessness, import, improvement, meaning, ne plus ultra, perfection, processing, rectification, significance, signification | |
| Webster's 1913 Dictionary |
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| | Definition: | | \Re*fine"ment\ (r?*f?n"ment), n. [Cf. F.
raffinement.]
1. The act of refining, or the state of being refined; as,
the refinement or metals; refinement of ideas.
The more bodies are of kin to spirit in subtilty and
refinement, the more diffusive are they. --Norris.
From the civil war to this time, I doubt whether the
corruptions in our language have not equaled its
refinements. --Swift.
2. That which is refined, elaborated, or polished to excess;
an affected subtilty; as, refinements of logic. ``The
refinements of irregular cunning.'' --Rogers.
Syn: Purification; polish; politeness; gentility; elegance;
cultivation; civilization.
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