■ verb
1》 make changes in (something, especially an institution or practice) in order to improve it.
↘cause (someone) to relinquish an immoral or criminal lifestyle.
2》 Chemistry subject (hydrocarbons) to a catalytic process in which straight-chain molecules are converted to branched forms.
■ noun the action or process of ~ing.
Derivatives
~able adjective
~ative adjective
~ed adjective
~er noun
Origin
ME (in the senses 'restore peace' and 'restore to the original condition'): from OFr. ~er or L. ~are , from re- 'back' + formare 'to form'.