re|form|ist /r I fɔː r m I st/ (reformists ) ADJ Reformist groups or policies are trying to reform a system or law. □ …a strong supporter of reformist policies. ● N‑COUNT A reformist is someone with reformist views.
re|fract /r I fræ kt/ (refracts , refracting , refracted ) VERB When a ray of light or a sound wave refracts or is refracted , the path it follows bends at a particular point, for example when it enters water or glass. □ [V n] As we age, the lenses of the eyes thicken, and thus refract light differently. □ [V ] …surfaces that cause the light to reflect and refract. ● re|frac|tion /r I fræ kʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the refraction of the light on the dancing waves.
re|frac|tory /r I fræ ktəri/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Refractory people are difficult to deal with or control, for example because they are unwilling to obey orders. [FORMAL ] □ …the situation when a state is confronted by a refractory religious minority.
re|frain /r I fre I n/ (refrains , refraining , refrained )
1 VERB If you refrain from doing something, you deliberately do not do it. □ [V + from ] Mrs Hardie refrained from making any comment.
2 N‑COUNT A refrain is a short, simple part of a song, which is repeated many times. □ …a refrain from an old song.
3 N‑COUNT A refrain is a comment or saying that people often repeat. □ Rosa's constant refrain is that she doesn't have a life.
re|fresh /r I fre ʃ/ (refreshes , refreshing , refreshed )
1 VERB If something refreshes you when you have become hot, tired, or thirsty, it makes you feel cooler or more energetic. □ [V n] The lotion cools and refreshes the skin. ● re|freshed ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] □ He awoke feeling completely refreshed.
2 VERB If you refresh something old or dull, you make it as good as it was when it was new. □ [V n] Many view these meetings as an occasion to share ideas and refresh friendship.
3 VERB If someone refreshes your memory, they tell you something that you had forgotten. □ [V n] He walked on the opposite side of the street to refresh his memory of the building.
4 VERB If you refresh a web page, you click a button in order to get the most recent version of the page. [COMPUTING ] □ [V n] Press the 'reload' button on your web browser to refresh the site.
re|fre sh|er course (refresher courses ) N‑COUNT A refresher course is a training course in which people improve their knowledge or skills and learn about new developments that are related to the job that they do.
re|fresh|ing /r I fre ʃ I ŋ/
1 ADJ You say that something is refreshing when it is pleasantly different from what you are used to. □ It's refreshing to hear somebody speaking common sense. ● re|fresh|ing|ly ADV □ He was refreshingly honest.
2 ADJ A refreshing bath or drink makes you feel energetic or cool again after you have been tired or hot. □ Herbs have been used for centuries to make refreshing drinks.
re|fresh|ment /r I fre ʃmənt/ (refreshments )
1 N‑PLURAL Refreshments are drinks and small amounts of food that are provided, for example, during a meeting or a journey.
2 N‑UNCOUNT You can refer to food and drink as refreshment . [FORMAL ] □ May I offer you some refreshment?
re|frig|er|ate /r I fr I dʒəre I t/ (refrigerates , refrigerating , refrigerated ) VERB If you refrigerate food, you make it cold, for example by putting it in a fridge, usually in order to preserve it. □ [V n] Refrigerate the dough overnight.
re|frig|era|tor /r I fr I dʒəre I tə r / (refrigerators ) N‑COUNT A refrigerator is a large container which is kept cool inside, usually by electricity, so that the food and drink in it stays fresh.
re|fu|el /riː fjuː əl/ (refuels , refuelling , refuelled ) in AM, use refueling , refueled VERB When an aircraft or other vehicle refuels or when someone refuels it, it is filled with more fuel so that it can continue its journey. □ [V ] His plane stopped in France to refuel. □ [V n] The airline's crew refuelled the plane. ● re|fu|el|ling N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …in-flight refuelling of Tornados.
ref|uge /re fjuːdʒ/ (refuges )
1 N‑UNCOUNT If you take refuge somewhere, you try to protect yourself from physical harm by going there. □ They took refuge in a bomb shelter. □ His home became a place of refuge for the believers.
2 N‑COUNT A refuge is a place where you go for safety and protection, for example from violence or from bad weather. □ …a refuge for battered women.
3 N‑UNCOUNT If you take refuge in a particular way of behaving or thinking, you try to protect yourself from unhappiness or unpleasantness by behaving or thinking in that way. □ With these restrictions on childhood it's no wonder kids seek refuge in consumerism.
refu|gee ◆◆◇ /re fjuːdʒiː / (refugees ) N‑COUNT Refugees are people who have been forced to leave their homes or their country, either because there is a war there or because of their political or religious beliefs.
re|fund (refunds , refunding , refunded ) The noun is pronounced /riː fʌnd/. The verb is pronounced /r I fʌ nd/. 1 N‑COUNT A refund is a sum of money which is returned to you, for example because you have paid too much or because you have returned goods to a shop.
2 VERB If someone refunds your money, they return it to you, for example because you have paid too much or because you have returned goods to a shop. □ [V n] We guarantee to refund your money if you're not delighted with your purchase.