refinement - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com

Do you know which fork is for your salad and which one for dessert? Then you have some refinement — good manners and taste.

Things that go through a process of refinement have been refined. They've lost their rough edges. For people, this means they have good manners and etiquette. For substances like oil and sugar, it means that impurities have been removed. After refinement, things and people become more acceptable — to attend a fancy dinner or be served at one — in the case of the sugar.

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: refinement

1	n	the result of improving something
2	n	the process of removing impurities (as from oil or metals or sugar etc.)
3	n	a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude

FULL DEFINITIONS OF: refinement

1

n the result of improving something

“he described a refinement of this technique”

Synonyms:: elaboration

Type of:: advance, betterment, improvement
a change for the better; progress in development

n a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality

“I admired the exquisite refinement of his prose”

Synonyms:: cultivation, culture, finish, polish

Type of:: flawlessness, ne plus ultra, perfection
the state of being without a flaw or defect

n the quality of excellence in thought and manners and taste

“a man of intellectual refinement”

Synonyms:: civilisation, civilization

Type of:: excellence
the quality of excelling; possessing good qualities in high degree

2

n the process of removing impurities (as from oil or metals or sugar etc.)

Synonyms:: purification, refining

Types:: rectification
(chemistry) the process of refinement or purification of a substance by distillation

Type of:: processing
preparing or putting through a prescribed procedure

3

n a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude

Synonyms:: nicety, nuance, shade, subtlety

Type of:: import, meaning, significance, signification
the message that is intended or expressed or signified