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   refine

   /rɪˈfʌɪn/

   verb

   • 1. remove impurities or unwanted elements from (a substance), typically as part of an industrial process: "sugar was refined by boiling it in huge iron vats" Similar purifyclarifyclearcleansestrainsiftfilterrarefydistilconcentrateprocesstreattechnical:rectifyOpposite adulterate
   • ▪ make minor changes so as to improve or clarify (a theory or method): "ease of access to computers has refined analysis and presentation of data" Similar improveperfectpolish (up)honetemperfine-tuneelaboratetouch upreviseeditcopy-editcompletefinishfinish offput the final/finishing touches tocrownconsummateinformal:tweakOpposite lose

   Word Origin late 16th century: from re- ‘again’ + the verb fine1, influenced by French raffiner.

   Derivatives

   • 1. refiner noun

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   • F

     4

   • I

     1

   • N

     1

   • E

     1

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