refine

To improve something by making small, careful changes.

• We need to refine our plan.
• She refined the design after testing it.
• You can refine your technique with practice.

Similar words: improve, polish, perfect

Common phrases: refine a plan, refine a design, refine your technique

To remove unwanted substances from food or other materials.

• Factories refine sugar before selling it.
• The plant refines oil into fuel.
• How do they refine these raw materials?

How to use it: refine something into something (This plant refines crude oil into usable fuels.)

Similar words: purify, process

Common phrases: refine sugar, refine oil, refine raw materials, refine gold

To make someone’s behaviour or taste more polite, graceful, or pleasing.

• She tried to refine his manners.
• Travel helped refine her taste in art.
• He refined his speech for formal occasions.

Similar words: polish, cultivate

Common phrases: refine your manners, refine your taste, refine someone’s speech