refine

refine is on the Academic Word List.

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /rɪˈfaɪn/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: re‧fine

Verb

Plain form refine

Third-person singular refines

Past tense refined

Past participle refined

Present participle refining

1. When someone refines something, they make it better.

   We need to refine our way of organizing this office.

2. When people refine a food or other thing, they make it purer.

   They take sugar cane and refine it to make white sugar.

Synonyms

• purify
• process
• improve

Related words

• fine
• refined
• refiner
• refinery