refinement

I

(Roget's IV) n.

1. [The act of refining]

Syn. cleaning, cleansing, purification, distillation, clarification, clarifying, draining, elutriation, depuration, detersion, cracking, filtration.

2. [Culture]

Syn. civilization, cultivation, erudition, sophistication, breeding, enlightenment, wide knowledge, lore, subtlety, science, artistic attainments, scholarship, learning; see also culture 3 .

3. [Genteel feelings and behavior]

Syn. elegance, politeness, polish, good manners, good breeding, suavity, courtesy, grace, gentleness, tact, cultivation, graciousness, civility, gentility, taste, discrimination, fineness, delicacy, dignity, urbanity, savoir-faire; see also courtesy 1 , elegance 1 .

II

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) n.

cultivation, culture, polish, perfection, finish, elegance, civility, gentility, graciousness, good breeding, urbanity, delicacy.

ANT.: roughness, coarseness, crudeness, vulgarity

III

(Roget's Thesaurus II) noun 1. The act or process of removing physical impurities: clarification, purification. See CLEAN. 2. High style in quality, manner, or dress: quality. Informal: class. See STYLE. 3. Enlightenment and excellent taste resulting from intellectual development: civilization, cultivation, culture. See CULTURE. 4. The ability to distinguish, especially to recognize small differences or draw fine distinctions: discrimination, selectiveness, selectivity. See PRECISE.