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rarefy

Pronunciation: /ˈrɛːrɪfʌɪ/

(also rarify)
Definition of rarefy

verb (rarefies, rarefying, rarefied)

  • make or become less dense or solid: [with object]:air rarefies and degrounds the physical body [no object]:as the shell continues to expand and rarefy, astronomers may eventually be able to see characteristic gamma rays from the radioactivity within

Derivatives

rarefication

Pronunciation: /-fɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/

noun

rarefactive

Pronunciation: /-ˈfaktɪv/

adjective

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French rarefier, or medieval Latin rareficare, based on Latin rarus 'rare' + facere 'make'

Spelling help

Rarefy can also be spelled rarify, with an i in the middle, although rarefy is much more common.

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