refined

verb

1. 1

   Also a form of refinesimple past and past participle of refine

   The raw petroleum was refined into kerosene.

adjective

1. 1

   obsoletePrecise, freed from imprecision Sagacious, sometimes (derogatory) oversubtle or feigning sagacity.

2. 2

   Precise, freed from imprecision Subtle, scrupulous, carefully thought out.

   The argument, while not persuasive, is quite refined.

3. 3

   Precise, freed from imprecision Developed, improved.

   The curriculum has been carefully refined to meet the needs of foreign students.

4. 4

   Cultured, freed from vulgarity Elevated and polished.

   In the British Isles, Oxbridge is considered refined; Geordie somewhat less so.

5. 5

   Cultured, freed from vulgarity Elegant, sometimes (derogatory) affected, prissy, or bloodless.

   Don Draper was a man of refined tastes.

   "Jesus Christ! Was my folks refined. My mam she wouldn't think-a lettin' us young'uns call a pee pot a pee pot. A chamber's what she called it... And by God! Us young'uns had ter call the pee pot a chamber or git our God damn necks wrang."

6. 6

   Purified, reduced in or freed from impurities Highly-processed and pure.

   Under current guidelines, refined sugar must be at least five times purer than its raw counterpart.

7. 7

   Purified, reduced in or freed from impurities Free of dross or alloy.

   The Temple at Jerusalem preferred Tyrian shekels, since even with Ba'al's portrait they bore highly refined silver.

8. 8

   obsoletePurified, reduced in or freed from impurities Morally pure.

9. 9

   Dealing in a refined product such as sugar or petroleum.

noun

1. 1

   The refined form of a commodity, as opposed to its raw or generic form.

   We're still purchasing copper ore, but the market for refined is weaker.

Forms

plural

refineds

comparative

more refined

superlative

most refined