refractory

 
Pronunciation: /rɪˈfrakt(ə)ri/

adjective

formal
  • 1stubborn or unmanageable: his refractory pony
  • 2resistant to a process or stimulus: some granules are refractory to secretory stimuli it will treat ores considered refractory to normal flotation methods
  • Medicine (of a person, illness, or diseased tissue) not yielding to treatment: healing of previously refractory ulcers
  • Medicine, rare (of a person or animal) resistant to infection: turkeys can be infected when young but are refractory as adults
  • technical (of a substance) resistant to heat; hard to melt or fuse: refractory materials found in lunar samples

noun (plural refractories)

technical
  • a substance that is resistant to heat.

Derivatives

refractoriness

noun

Origin:

early 17th century: alteration of obsolete refractary, from Latin refractarius 'stubborn' (see also refract)