rarefy
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rar·e·fy
also rar·i·fy (râr′ə-fī′)v. rar·e·fied, rar·e·fy·ing, rar·e·fies also rar·i·fied or rar·i·fy·ing or rar·i·fies
v.tr.
1. To make thin or less dense, as air.
2. To purify or refine: "The [medieval] Italians ... rarefy the image of the lady, treating her as a quasi-celestial figure" (Marcia L. Colish).
v.intr.
To become thin or less dense.
[Middle English rarefien, from Old French rarefier, from Medieval Latin rārificāre, alteration of Latin rārēfacere : rārus, rare + facere, to make; see dhē- in Indo-European roots.]
rar′e·fi′a·ble adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
rarefy
(ˈrɛərɪˌfaɪ)vb, -fies, -fying or -fied
to make or become rarer or less dense; thin out
[C14: from Old French raréfier, from Latin rārēfacere, from rārus rare1 + facere to make]
ˈrareˌfiable adj
ˈrareˌfier n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
rar•e•fy
(ˈrɛər əˌfaɪ)v. -fied, -fy•ing. v.t.
1. to make rare or rarer; make less dense: to rarefy a gas.
2. to make more refined or spiritual.
v.i. 3. to become less dense; become thinned.
[1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French rarefier « Latin rārēfacere=rārē-, comb. form of rārus rare1 (for expected rāri-; orig. of -ē- unclear) + facere to make; see -fy]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
rarefy
Past participle: rarefied
Gerund: rarefying
| Imperative |
|---|
| rarefy |
| rarefy |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Verb | 1. | rarefy - lessen the density or solidity of; "The bones are rarefied" |
| 2. | rarefy - make more subtle or refined | |
| 3. | rarefy - weaken the consistency of (a chemical substance) chemical science, chemistry - the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions weaken - lessen the strength of; "The fever weakened his body" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
rarefy
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
rarefy
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007