refinement : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: refinement	by the DICT Development Group
2 results for refinement
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
refinement n 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 Synonym(s): polish, refinement, culture, cultivation, finish the result of improving something; "he described a refinement of this technique" Synonym(s): refinement, elaboration the process of removing impurities (as from oil or metals or sugar etc.) Synonym(s): refining, refinement, purification 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" Synonym(s): nuance, nicety, shade, subtlety, refinement the quality of excellence in thought and manners and taste; "a man of intellectual refinement"; "he is remembered for his generosity and civilization" Synonym(s): refinement, civilization, civilisation
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Refinement \Refine"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. [bd]The refinements of irregular cunning.[b8] --Rogers. Syn: Purification; polish; politeness; gentility; elegance; cultivation; civilization.