I. re ‧ fuse 1 S2 W1 /rɪˈfjuːz/ BrE AmE verb
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: refuser , from Latin refundere 'to pour back' ]
1 . [intransitive] to say firmly that you will not do something that someone has asked you to do:
She asked him to leave, but he refused.
refuse to do something
I absolutely refuse to take part in anything illegal.
flatly refuse/refuse point-blank (to do something) (=refuse immediately and directly without giving a reason)
Mom flatly refused to go back into the hospital.
When he offered all that money, I could hardly refuse (=could not refuse) , could I?
2 . [intransitive and transitive] to say no to something that you have been offered SYN turn down :
She refused a second piece of cake.
The offer seemed too good to refuse.
3 . [transitive] to not give or allow someone something that they want, especially when they have asked for it officially
refuse somebody something
She was refused a work permit.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ adverbs
▪ stubbornly refuse
He stubbornly refused to pay the fine.
▪ adamantly refuse formal (=in a determined way)
They are still adamantly refusing to release the data to the general public.
▪ steadfastly refuse (=refuse, and continue to refuse)
She steadfastly refused to marry him.
▪ consistently refuse
Politicians have consistently refused to listen to us.
▪ flatly refuse (=in a firm and definite way)
He flatly refused to tell me anything.
▪ simply refuse (=used for emphasis)
Some children simply refuse to do what they’re told.
▪ refuse point-blank (=directly and without explanation)
I refused point-blank to let him in.
■ phrases
▪ somebody can hardly refuse (=it would be unreasonable or very difficult to refuse)
Going out was the last thing I wanted to do, but I could hardly refuse.
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THESAURUS
▪ refuse to say firmly that you will not do something that someone has asked you to do:
I asked the bank for a loan, but they refused.
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When they refused to leave, we had to call the police.
▪ say no spoken to say that you will not do something when someone asks you:
They asked me so nicely that I couldn’t really say no.
▪ turn somebody/something down to refuse to accept an offer or invitation, or a formal request:
They offered me the job but I turned it down.
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The board turned down a request for $25,000 to sponsor an art exhibition.
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I’ve already been turned down by three colleges.
▪ reject to refuse to accept an idea, offer, suggestion, or plan:
They rejected the idea because it would cost too much money.
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The Senate rejected a proposal to limit the program to two years.
▪ decline formal to politely refuse to accept an offer or invitation, or refuse to do something:
She has declined all offers of help.
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A palace spokesman declined to comment on the rumours.
▪ deny to refuse to allow someone to do something or enter somewhere:
They were denied permission to publish the book.
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He was denied access to the US.
▪ veto to officially refuse to allow a law or plan, or to refuse to accept someone’s suggestion:
Congress vetoed the bill.
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The suggestion was quickly vetoed by the other members of the team.
▪ disallow to officially refuse to accept something because someone has broken the rules, or not done it in the correct way:
The goal was disallowed by the referee.
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The court decided to disallow his evidence.
▪ rebuff formal to refuse to accept someone’s offer, request, or suggestion:
The company raised its offer to $6 billion, but was rebuffed.
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He was politely rebuffed when he suggested holding the show in Dublin.
▪ give somebody/something the thumbs down informal to refuse to allow or accept a plan or suggestion:
The plan was given the thumbs down by the local authority.
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They gave us the thumbs down.
II. ref ‧ use 2 /ˈrefjuːs/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable] formal
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: refus , from refuser ; ⇨ ↑ refuse 1 ]
waste material that has been thrown away SYN rubbish British English , trash, garbage American English :
a refuse dump
household/domestic refuse
refuse collection
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THESAURUS
▪ rubbish especially British English things that people throw away, such as old food, dirty paper etc:
People are being encouraged to recycle their household rubbish.
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the rubbish bin
▪ garbage/trash American English rubbish:
The garbage is collected every Tuesday.
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There were piles of trash in the backyard.
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a black plastic garbage bag
▪ refuse formal rubbish:
The strike has disrupted refuse collection.
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It’s a site which is used for domestic refuse.
▪ litter empty bottles, pieces of paper etc that people have dropped on the ground:
Parents should teach children not to drop litter.
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There was a lot of litter on the beach.
▪ waste rubbish, or materials that need to be dealt with after they have been used in industrial processes:
nuclear waste
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toxic waste
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household waste
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The company was fined for dumping toxic waste in the sea.