refine
Make more pure
Refine means to improve by removing impurities or unwanted elements.
Oil is refined into gasoline, sugar into white crystals.
The meaning extends to improving anything through careful adjustment: She refined her argument after the first draft.
A refined person has cultivated taste and manners—the rough edges polished away.
Refinement suggests elegance and sophistication.
Porous separation device
- distillPurify through vaporization
- clarifyMake something understandable
- cleanseRemove dirt or sin
- purgeEliminate unwanted elements
sift · strain · separate · extract · decontaminate · precipitate · filtration · sediment
Smooth by rubbing
upgrade · optimize · elevate · sharpen · develop · advance · enrich · strengthen
Cultured elegance and complexity
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- polishSmooth by rubbing
- finesseSubtle, deft handling
- cultivatedImproved through nurture
taste · class · poise · style · subtlety · nuance · delicacy · discernment
Acquired ability through practice
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
- craftsmanshipSkill in making objects
- artistryExceptional creative skill
- masteryComplete skill or control
technique · workmanship · expertise · dexterity · handiwork · finesse · meticulous · detail
Ore-refining process
- oreMetal-bearing rock
- forgeFurnace for shaping metal
- crucibleVessel for extreme heat
- slagIndustrial metalworking byproduct
impurities · molten · alloy · ingot · bullion · foundry · metallurgy · flux
Liquor or apparitions
- whiskeyOak-aged grain spirit
- vodkaClear distilled spirit
- ethanolDrinkable volatile spirit
- moonshineIllegally distilled spirits
alcohol · fermentation · alembic · pot-still · condenser · copper · mash · wort
Stick for support
- beetDark red root vegetable
- molassesSyrup from cane processing
- rawIn original state
- granulatedFormed into grains
crystallize · centrifuge · syrup · sucrose · processing · mill · plantation · sweetener
filter
Porous separation device
purge · sift · strain · separate · extract · decontaminate · precipitate · filtration · sediment · centrifuge
polish
Smooth by rubbing
better · upgrade · optimize · elevate · sharpen · develop · advance · enrich · strengthen · fortify
sophistication
Cultured elegance and complexity
cultivated · taste · class · poise · style · subtlety · nuance · delicacy · discernment · aesthetic
skill
Acquired ability through practice
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
- craftsmanshipSkill in making objects
- artistryExceptional creative skill
mastery · technique · workmanship · expertise · dexterity · handiwork · finesse · meticulous · detail · perfectionism
smelt
Ore-refining process
slag · impurities · molten · alloy · ingot · bullion · foundry · metallurgy · flux · cast
spirits
Liquor or apparitions
moonshine · alcohol · fermentation · alembic · pot-still · condenser · copper · mash · wort · barrels
cane
Stick for support
granulated · crystallize · centrifuge · syrup · sucrose · processing · mill · plantation · sweetener · white
- efficiencyoptimization, efficient, streamlining, effective, optimize
- fixesfix, repair, mend, correction, correct
- adjustmentsadjustment, tweaks, adjust, shifts, fixes
- change verbschange, alter, transform, modify, convert
- Editing Tasksproofreading, proofread, spellcheck, revise, edit
- editorial actionsedit, revise, proofread, publish, review
refinecontaminate
Make unclean or unsafe
pollute · adulterate · corrupt · taint · defile
- refined sugarPurified crystalline sweetener
- oil refiningSeparating crude into fuels
- refined styleCultured, polished taste
- refinance loanNew loan replaces old
- zone refiningPurification via traveling melt
- refined grainCereal minus outer layers
refined, unrefined, refining, refinement, refines, refiner, refinements, refinance, refiners