make more precise or increase the discriminatory powers of; "refine a method of analysis"; "refine the constant in the equation"
attenuate or reduce in vigor, strength, or validity by polishing or purifying; "many valuable nutrients are refined out of the foods in our modern diet"
reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; separate from extraneous matter or cleanse from impurities; "refine sugar"
treat or prepare so as to put in a usable condition; "refine paper stock"; "refine pig iron"; "refine oil"
a club-shaped hand tool for grinding and mixing substances in a mortar
a heavy tool of stone or iron (usually with a flat base and a handle) that is used to grind and mix material (as grain or drugs or pigments) against a slab of stone
grind, mash or pulverize in a mortar; "pestle the garlic"
the act of finishing; "his best finish in a major tournament was third"; "the speaker's finishing was greeted with applause"
(wine tasting) the taste of a wine on the back of the tongue (as it is swallowed); "the wine has a nutty flavor and a pleasant finish"
the downfall of someone (as of persons on one side of a conflict); "booze will be the finish of him"; "it was a fight to the finish"
designated event that concludes a contest (especially a race); "excitement grew as the finish neared"; "my horse was several lengths behind at the finish"; "the winner is the team with the most points at the finish"
the place designated as the end (as of a race or journey); "a crowd assembled at the finish"; "he was nearly exhausted as their destination came into view"
cause to finish a relationship with somebody; "That finished me with Mary"
provide with a finish; "The carpenter finished the table beautifully"
take up residence and become established; "The immigrants settled in the Midwest"
form a community; "The Swedes settled in Minnesota"
become settled or established and stable in one's residence or life style; "He finally settled down"
establish or develop as a residence; "He settled the farm 200 years ago"; "This land was settled by Germans"
become resolved, fixed, established, or quiet; "The roar settled to a thunder"; "The wind settled in the West"; "it is settling to rain"; "A cough settled in her chest"; "Her mood settled into lethargy"
settle conclusively; come to terms; "We finally settled the argument"
end a legal dispute by arriving at a settlement; "The two parties finally settled"
accept despite complete satisfaction; "We settled for a lower price"
get one's revenge for a wrong or an injury; "I finally settled with my old enemy"
arrange or fix in the desired order; "She settled the teacart"
cause to become clear by forming a sediment (of liquids)
become clear by the sinking of particles; "the liquid gradually settled"
come to rest
settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground; "dust settled on the roofs"
a device used to soften the tone of a musical instrument
a deaf person who is unable to speak
expressed without speech; especially because words would be inappropriate or inadequate; "a mute appeal"; "a silent curse"; "best grief is tongueless"- Emily Dickinson; "the words stopped at her lips unsounded"; "unspoken grief"; "choking exasperation and wordless shame"- Thomas Wolfe
take out or remove; "take out the chicken after adding the vegetables"
take away a part from; diminish; "His bad manners detract from his good character"
remove from a certain place, environment, or mental or emotional state; transport into a new location or state; "Their dreams carried the Romantics away into distant lands"; "The car carried us off to the meeting"; "I'll take you away on a holiday"; "I got carried away when I saw the dead man and I started to cry"
take from a person or place; "We took the abused child away from its parents"