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refractory

Syllabification: (re·frac·to·ry)
Pronunciation: /riˈfraktərē/
Definition of refractory

adjective

formal
  • 1stubborn or unmanageable:his refractory pony
  • 2resistant to a process or stimulus:some granules are refractory to secretory stimuli
  • 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.
  • technical (of a substance) resistant to heat; hard to melt or fuse.

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)

refractory in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of refractory in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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