refined Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb improve or perfect by pruning or polishing
    down; polish; fine-tune; refine.
    • refine one's style of writing
  2. verb make more complex, intricate, or richer
    rarify; elaborate; complicate; refine.
    • refine a design or pattern
  3. verb treat or prepare so as to put in a usable condition
    refine.
    • refine paper stock
    • refine pig iron
    • refine oil
  4. verb reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; separate from extraneous matter or cleanse from impurities
    refine; rectify.
    • refine sugar
  5. verb attenuate or reduce in vigor, strength, or validity by polishing or purifying
    refine.
    • many valuable nutrients are refined out of the foods in our modern diet
  6. verb make more precise or increase the discriminatory powers of
    refine.
    • refine a method of analysis
    • refine the constant in the equation
  7. adjective (used of persons and their behavior) cultivated and genteel
    • she was delicate and refined and unused to hardship
    • refined people with refined taste
  8. adjective freed from impurities by processing
    processed.
    • refined sugar
    • refined oil
    • to gild refined gold"- Shakespeare
  9. adjective satellite showing a high degree of refinement and the assurance that comes from wide social experience
    svelte; polished; urbane.
    • his polished manner
    • maintained an urbane tone in his letters
  10. adjective satellite suggesting taste, ease, and wealth
    elegant; graceful.
  11. adjective satellite free from what is tawdry or unbecoming
    neat; tasteful.
    • a neat style
    • a neat set of rules
    • she hated to have her neat plans upset

WordNet


Re*fined" adjective
Definitions
  1. 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 adv. -- Re*fin"ed*ness, n.

Webster 1913