refine/rIˋfaIn; rIˈfaIn/v [T] 1 to use an industrial process to make a natural substance more pure 净化﹔提炼﹐精炼: The sugar is refined and then shipped abroad. 糖被精炼后用船运到国外。2 to improve a method, plan, system etc by making small changes to it 对〔方法﹑计划﹑系统等〕作细微改进﹐改善 —refinement n [U]