refinement

The act of refining.

The result of refining; an improvement or elaboration.

The state or quality of being refined; cultivation, as in manners or taste.

A keen or precise phrasing; a subtle distinction.

The act of refining or purifying; the act of separating from a substance all extraneous matter; purification: clarification: as, the refinement of metals or liquors.

The state of being pure or purified.

The state of being free from what is coarse, rude, inelegant, debasing, or the like; purity of taste, mind, etc.; elegance of manners or language; culture.

That which proceeds from refining or a desire to refine; a result of elaboration, polish, or nicety: often used to denote an over-nicety, or affected subtlety: as, the refinements of logic or philosophy; the refinements of cunning.

Excessive or extravagant compliment; a form of expression intended to impose on the hearer.

Synonyms Cultivation, etc. See culture.