Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

refinement

 noun
     
re‧fine‧ment
1 [countable] an improvement, usually a small one, to something:
The new model has a number of refinements.
2 [countable] something which is an improved version of an existing product, system etc
refinement of
The new theory is a refinement of Corbin's theory of personality development.
3 [uncountable] the process of improving something:
Some further refinement is needed.
4 [uncountable] the process of making a substance more pure:
sugar refinement
refinement of
the refinement of cocaine
5 [uncountable] the quality of being polite and well-educated, in a way that is typical of someone from a high social class:
a woman of great refinement
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
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