refinement

The act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material

Noun

  1. The act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
  2. High-class style; cultivation.
  3. A fine or subtle distinction.
  4. A luxury.
    • There was no bathroom in the cabin. Such refinements don't exist in the woods, apparently. - 1974 February 2, Nancy Walker, “Call of the Wild”, in Gay Community News, volume 1, number 32, page 11:
  5. Synonym of grooming (“review and prioritization process”).

    Synonyms: grooming

Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Italic *wre- Latin re-der. Old French re-bor. Middle English re- English re- English fine English refine Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥tom Proto-Italic *-mentom Latin -mentum Old French -mentbor. Middle English -ment English -ment English refinement From refine + -ment.

Forms

refinements

Synonyms

gentility

Derived

autorefinement biorefinement electrorefinement overrefinement ultrarefinement