Link Centre Dictionary

refrain

ref·rain

UK/ɹɪˈfɹeɪn/ US/rɪˈfreɪn/ fairly common
noun (1) verb (2)

noun

1.

the part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers

Synonyms

verb

1.

not do something

  • “He refrained from hitting him back”
  • “she could not forbear weeping”
Synonyms
Antonyms
2.

choose no to consume

  • “I abstain from alcohol”
Synonyms
Antonyms

Origin

From French refrain, from the Old French verb refraindre (“to break off, repeat”), from Latin re- (“back, again”) + frangō (“break”); compare Occitan refranhs (“a refrain”), refranher (“to repeat”). See refract and the verb refrain.

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

Parts

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.