Search the Dictionary

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. Z…

Freed from impurities or alloy; purifed; polished; cultured; delicate; as; refined gold; refined language; refined sentiments. Refined wits who honored poesy with their pens. Peacham. -- Re*fin"ed*ly (r, adv. -- Re*fin"ed*ness, n.

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.…

One who, or that which, refines.

The building and apparatus for refining or purifying, esp. metals and sugar.

To fit or prepare for use again; to repair; to restore after damage or decay; as, to refit a garment; to refit ships of war. Macaulay.

The act of refitting, or the state of being refitted.

To fix again or anew; to establish anew. Fuller.

To kindle again into flame.

To bend back; to give a backwaas, a mirror reflects rays of light; polished metals reflect heat. Let me mind the reader to reflect his eye on our quotations. Fuller. Bodies close together reflect their own color. Dryden.

Thrown back after striking a surface; as, reflected light, heat, sound, etc.

Bending or flying back; reflected. "The ray descendent, and the ray reflectent flying with so great a speed." Sir K. Digby.

Capable of being reflected, or thrown back; reflexible.

Given to reflection or serious consideration; reflective; contemplative; as, a reflecting mind. Reflecting circle, an astronomical instrument for measuring angless, like the sextant or Hadley's quadrant, by the reflection of light from two plane mirrors which it carries, and differing from the sextant chiefly in having…

With reflection; also, with censure; reproachfully. Swift.

The act of reflecting, or turning or sending back, or the state of being reflected. Specifically:

Throwing back images; as, a reflective mirror. In the reflective stream the sighing bride, viewing her charms. Prior.

One who, or that which, reflects. Boyle.

surface; -- used esp. in ceramics to denote the peculiar metallic brilliancy seen in lustered pottery such as majolica; as, silver reflet; gold reflet.

Directed back; attended by reflection; retroactive; introspective. The reflex act of the soul, or the turning of the intellectual eye inward upon its own actions. Sir M. Hale.