REFINEMENT

n. 1 culture, polish, elegance, sophistication, urbanity, urbaneness, breeding, cultivation, gentility, propriety, courtliness, civility, politeness, politesse, delicacy, tact, diplomacy, finesse, suavity, suaveness, taste, tastefulness, discrimination, discernment, sensitivity He drank thirstily, with no pretence at refinement 2 subtlety, nicety, nuance, distinction, detail, fine point, delicacy, minutia; fastidiousness, finickiness The latest version contains refinements that are beyond the appreciation of all but a few 3 refining, purification, purifying, clarification, clarifying, cleaning, cleansing; filtration, distillation The sugar must undergo refinement before being sold commercially 4 improvement, betterment, bettering, enhancement, development, perfection She is working on the refinement of her technique before performing in public