| verb | improve or perfect by pruning or polishing “refine one's style of writing” |
| verb | make more complex, intricate, or richer “refine a design or pattern” |
| verb | treat or prepare so as to put in a usable condition “refine paper stock” |
| verb | reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; separate from extraneous matter or cleanse from impurities “refine sugar” |
| verb | attenuate or reduce in vigor, strength, or validity by polishing or purifying “many valuable nutrients are refined out of the foods in our modern diet” |
| verb | make more precise or increase the discriminatory powers of “refine a method of analysis” |
| polish | noun | a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality; ; ; --Joseph Conrad |
| refinement | noun | a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality; ; ; --Joseph Conrad |
| refiner | noun | one whose work is to refine a specific thing |
| complication | noun | puzzling complexity |
| elaboration | noun | the result of improving something |
| refinery | noun | an industrial plant for purifying a crude substance |
| refining | noun | the process of removing impurities (as from oil or metals or sugar etc.) |
| rectification | noun | (chemistry) the process of refinement or purification of a substance by distillation |