n.1 the act of refining or the process of being refined.
2 fineness of feeling or taste.
3 polish or elegance in behaviour or manner.
4 an added development or improvement (a car with several refinements).
5 a piece of subtle reasoning.
6 a fine distinction.
7 a subtle or ingenious example or display (all the refinements of reasoning).
Etymology: REFINE + -MENT, after F raffinement