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refinement
4 dictionary results for: refinement
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
re·fine·ment       [ri-fahyn-muhnt] Pronunciation Key
–noun
1.fineness or elegance of feeling, taste, manners, language, etc.
2.an instance of refined feeling, manners, etc.
3.the act or process of refining.
4.the quality or state of being refined.
5.a subtle point or distinction.
6.subtle reasoning.
7.an improved, higher, or extreme form of something: a refinement of the old system.
8.Mathematics. a set whose elements include the elements of a given set.

[Origin: 1605–15; refine + -ment]
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
re·fine·ment       (rĭ-fīn'mənt)  Pronunciation Key 
n.  
  1. The act of refining.
  2. The result of refining; an improvement or elaboration.
  3. The state or quality of being refined; cultivation, as in manners or taste.
  4. A keen or precise phrasing; a subtle distinction.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
refinement

noun
1. a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality; "they performed with great polish"; "I admired the exquisite refinement of his prose"; "almost an inspiration which gives to all work that finish which is almost art"--Joseph Conrad [syn: polish
2. the result of improving something; "he described a refinement of this technique" 
3. the process of removing impurities (as from oil or metals or sugar etc.) [syn: refining
4. a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude; "without understanding the finer nuances you can't enjoy the humor"; "don't argue about shades of meaning" [syn: nuance
5. the quality of excellence in thought and manners and taste; "a man of intellectual refinement"; "he is remembered for his generosity and civilization" 

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Refinement

Re*fine"ment\ (r?*f?n"ment), n. [Cf. F. raffinement.]

1. 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. --Swift.

2. That which is refined, elaborated, or polished to excess; an affected subtilty; as, refinements of logic. "The refinements of irregular cunning." --Rogers.

Syn: Purification; polish; politeness; gentility; elegance; cultivation; civilization.

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