refining re·fi·ning US/rɪˈfaɪnɪŋ/ rare noun 1. the process of removing impurities (as from oil or metals or sugar etc.) Synonymsrefinementpurification Related words Word family purifyrefine Broader terms processing Narrower terms rectification WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved.