to make or become free from impurities, sediment, or other foreign matter; purify - (transitive)
to separate (a mixture) into pure constituents, as in an oil refinery to make or become free from coarse characteristics; make or become elegant or polished - (transitive) often followed by out:
to remove (something impure or extraneous) - (intr; often followed by on or upon)
to enlarge or improve (upon) by making subtle or fine distinctions - (transitive)
to make (language) more subtle or polished
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
re•fine /rɪˈfaɪn/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -fined, -fin•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- to separate (something) from impure substances:to refine oil.
- to bring (something) to a finer state or form by purifying, polishing, changing, or making it more precise:to refine a theory.
re•fine
(ri fīn′),USA pronunciation v., -fined, -fin•ing.
v.t.
v.i.
re•fin′a•ble, adj.
re•fin′er, n.
v.t.
- to bring to a fine or a pure state;
free from impurities:to refine metal, sugar, or petroleum. - to purify from what is coarse, vulgar, or debasing;
make elegant or cultured. - to bring to a finer state or form by purifying.
- to make more fine, subtle, or precise:to refine one's writing style.
v.i.
- to become pure.
- to become more fine, elegant, or polished.
- to make fine distinctions in thought or language.
- refine on or upon, to improve by inserting finer distinctions, superior elements, etc.:to refine on one's previous work.
- re- + fine1 1575–85
re•fin′er, n.
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