refine
gb/ɹɪfˈaɪn/ us/ɹɪfˈaɪn/
B2
English
~ 5400
finomít
VERB
B2
1
finomít
B2
Usage pattern:
to refine [a process/plan/idea/skill]
We need to refine our strategy before presenting it to the board.
Finomítanunk kell a stratégiánkat, mielőtt bemutatjuk az igazgatótanácsnak.
The team spent months refining the app based on user feedback.
A csapat hónapokon át finomította az alkalmazást a felhasználói visszajelzések alapján.
She refined her presentation until every slide was clear and concise.
The company is refining its hiring process to make it more fair.
Over the years, he refined his coaching style to suit different players.
Learner examples
The chef refined the recipe many times.
A séf sokszor finomított a recepten.
You should refine your plan before you start.
Finomíts a terveden, mielőtt belevágsz.
He refined his speech and removed some hard words.
They refined the product after listening to customers.
Practice will help you refine your writing skills.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'refine' with 'define'. 'Refine' means to improve something that already exists by making small changes, while 'define' means to explain the meaning of a word or idea. Another mistake is using 'refine' for big changes; for large, major changes, 'change' or 'redesign' is usually more natural.
Meaning
Improve something with small changes
Collocations
refine a process
|refine a plan
|refine a design
|refine your skills
|refine the method
|refine the model
Synonyms
improve (More general; does not suggest the small, careful changes that 'refine' does.)
|
fine-tune (Very close in meaning; often used for technical systems or performance settings.)
|
polish (Often used for style, writing, or performance; suggests making something smoother or more elegant.)
Antonyms
worsen (To make something less good, the opposite of improving it by refinement.)
|
ruin (To damage something badly so it no longer works or is useful, the opposite of carefully improving it.)
Themes
work
|education
|technology
|creativity
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make something better by changing it a little in a careful way.
To improve something by making small, precise changes so that it becomes better, more effective, or more accurate.
VERB
B2
2
finomít
B2
Usage pattern:
to refine [oil/sugar/metal]
The company refines crude oil into gasoline and diesel.
A vállalat a kőolajat benzinné és gázolajjá finomítja.
Sugar is refined in large factories before it reaches the supermarket.
A cukrot nagy gyárakban finomítják, mielőtt a szupermarketekbe kerül.
The laboratory developed a new method to refine recycled metals.
This plant refines raw palm oil for use in food products.
Gold is refined to remove other metals and increase its purity.
Learner examples
The factory refines oil for cars and planes.
A gyár autókhoz és repülőgépekhez való üzemanyaggá finomítja a kőolajat.
This plant refines sugar from sugarcane.
Ez az üzem cukornádból finomít cukrot.
They refine the metal before they make tools.
Clean water is refined and checked in a special center.
The company refines crude oil into many products.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'refine' is only used in abstract situations like ideas or plans. In science and industry, 'refine' is often used in a physical sense, especially with oil, sugar, and metals.
Meaning
Remove impurities from a substance
Collocations
refine oil
|refine sugar
|refine crude
|refine metal
|refine gold
|refine raw materials
Synonyms
purify (Very close in meaning; slightly more general and often used in scientific and environmental contexts.)
|
process (Broader; includes many industrial steps, not only removing impurities.)
Antonyms
contaminate (To make something dirty or unsafe by adding harmful substances, the opposite of refining it.)
|
pollute (To make air, water, or land dirty, the opposite direction of refining toward purity.)
Themes
science
|industry
|environment
|technology
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To clean a material like oil or sugar so that only the good, pure part is left.
To remove unwanted substances or impurities from a material, such as oil, metal, or sugar, so that it becomes purer and more usable.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
3
finomít
C1
Usage pattern:
to refine [someone's] manners/tastes/sensibilities
Travel can refine a person's tastes and perspectives.
Az utazás finomíthatja az ember ízlését és látásmódját.
Years of music training refined his ear for subtle harmonies.
A többéves zenei képzés finomította az árnyalt harmóniák iránti érzékét.
The school aims to refine students’ social skills as well as their academic abilities.
Living abroad refined her palate and introduced her to new cuisines.
Classical literature helped refine his sense of style in writing.
Learner examples
Good teachers can help refine a child’s manners.
A jó tanárok segíthetnek finomítani egy gyerek modorán.
Art classes can refine your taste in movies and music.
A művészeti órák finomíthatják az ízlésedet a filmek és a zene terén.
Living in a big city refined his social skills.
The program tries to refine students’ behavior.
Reading many books refined her sense of language.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this sense with objects instead of people. When talking about things like plans or products, use the more general sense of 'refine' meaning 'improve'. This sense is mainly about people’s manners, tastes, or feelings.
Meaning
Make behavior or tastes more cultured
Collocations
refine his manners
|refine her tastes
|refine their sensibilities
|refine one’s palate
|refine social skills
Synonyms
cultivate (Suggests careful development of tastes or skills over time.)
|
civilize (Stronger and sometimes negative or historical; implies moving from 'rough' to 'civilized'.)
Antonyms
coarsen (To make someone’s behavior or feelings less polite or sensitive.)
|
brutalize (To make someone more cruel or insensitive, the opposite of refining their character.)
Themes
social
|culture
|education
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make a person’s manners or tastes more polite and careful.
To improve someone's manners, feelings, or tastes so that they become more polite, sensitive, or cultured.
Grammar
Dictionary form
refine
IPA
GB/ɹɪfˈaɪn/
US/ɹɪfˈaɪn/
Syllables & stress
re - fine (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (fine)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: refine
- 3rd Person Singular: refines
- Present Participle: refining
- Past: refined
Word family
Forms
refines
verb
refining
verb
refined
verb
Core family
refinement
noun B2
Related words
refiner
noun
refinery
noun B2
Negative and opposite forms
unrefined
adjective
Advanced or less common
refinable
adjective
Expressions
refine a design
1/ɹɪfˈaɪn ə dɪzˈaɪn/
fixed phrase
Improve the details of a design
To change the small parts of a design so it looks or works better.
Examples
- The architect spent weeks refining the design of the new library.
- We need to refine the design before sending it to the client.
- User feedback helped them refine the design of the website.
refine oil
1/ɹɪfˈaɪn ˈɔɪl/
fixed phrase
Process crude oil into fuels
To clean and change crude oil in a factory so it becomes fuel and other products.
Examples
- This plant refines oil into gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.
- The company plans to refine more oil locally instead of importing fuel.
- Modern refineries can refine oil more efficiently than older ones.
refine sugar
1/ɹɪfˈaɪn ʃˈʊɡɚ/
fixed phrase
Process sugar to make it pure
To clean and process raw sugar so that it becomes white and pure.
Examples
- Factories refine sugar from sugarcane and sugar beets.
- The company uses a new method to refine sugar with less energy.
- Most white table sugar has been highly refined.
refine the process
1/ɹɪfˈaɪn ðə pɹˈɑsˌɛs/
fixed phrase
Improve a method step by step
To change a way of doing something in small steps so it works better.
Examples
- We will refine the process after we see the first results.
- The team is working to refine the process to save time and money.
- Over the years, they refined the process until it became very efficient.
refine your search
1/ɹɪfˈaɪn jˈʊɹ sˈɚt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
Make an online search narrower
To add or change words in a search box so you get fewer, more exact results.
Examples
- If you get too many results, try to refine your search with more specific keywords.
- The website suggests related terms to help you refine your search.
- You can refine your search by using filters on the left side of the page.
refine your skills
1/ɹɪfˈaɪn jˈʊɹ skˈɪlz/
fixed phrase
Improve skills with practice
To practice and adjust what you can already do so that you do it better.
Examples
- This course will help you refine your skills in public speaking.
- She took extra lessons to refine her skills before the competition.
- Working with a mentor is a great way to refine your skills.