I. rə̇ˈfresh, rēˈf- verb
Etymology: Middle English refresshen, from Middle French refreschir, refreschier, from Old French, from re- + freis fresh (feminine fresche ) — more at fresh
transitive verb
1. : to restore strength and animation to (as through food or rest) : relieve from fatigue or depression : revive , reinvigorate
rode many hours, but a brief rest and change of position refreshed him — Oliver La Farge
refreshed himself with a cold shower and rubdown
: cheer
refreshing himself with a little tobacco — Winston Churchill
it refreshes me to find a woman so charmingly direct, so completely feminine — Louis Bromfield
2. : to freshen up (as by cleaning, trimming) : renovate
3.
a. : to restore or maintain by renewing supply : replenish
English middle classes … continually renewed and refreshed themselves from the countryside — Roy Lewis & Angus Maude
the steward refreshed our glasses — A.J.Liebling
supply ship refreshed the attacking submarines
b. : quicken
let me refresh your memory of the events with this letter
4. : to make fresh by wetting or cooling ; specifically : to restore water to (dehydrated food)
intransitive verb
1. : to become fresh again : revive
2. : to refresh oneself : take refreshment
3. : to lay in fresh provisions
harbors where ships can refresh
II. transitive verb
: to update or renew (as an image, a display screen, or the contents of a computer memory) especially by sending a new signal
• refresh noun