Definition of Refuse

1. Noun. Food that is discarded (as from a kitchen).


2. Verb. Show unwillingness towards. "They refuse to move "; "He declined to join the group on a hike"
Exact synonyms: Decline
Generic synonyms: React, Respond
Specialized synonyms: Disdain, Freeze Off, Pooh-pooh, Reject, Scorn, Spurn, Turn Down, Contract Out, Regret, Repudiate, Disobey
Antonyms: Accept

3. Verb. Refuse to accept. "They refuse the money "; "He refused my offer of hospitality"
Exact synonyms: Decline, Pass Up, Reject, Turn Down
Related verbs: Disdain, Freeze Off, Pooh-pooh, Reject, Scorn, Spurn, Turn Down
Specialized synonyms: Dishonor, Dishonour, Bounce
Derivative terms: Declination, Refusal, Rejection, Turndown
Antonyms: Accept

4. Verb. Elude, especially in a baffling way. "This behavior defies explanation"
Exact synonyms: Defy, Resist
Specialized synonyms: Beggar
Generic synonyms: Elude, Escape
Antonyms: Lend Oneself

5. Verb. Refuse to let have. "They refuse them the money"; "He denies her her weekly allowance"
Exact synonyms: Deny
Generic synonyms: Hold On, Keep
Related verbs: Abnegate, Deny
Specialized synonyms: Keep Back, Withhold
Antonyms: Allow
Derivative terms: Denier, Refusal

6. Verb. Resist immunologically the introduction of some foreign tissue or organ. "His body rejected the liver of the donor"
Exact synonyms: Reject, Resist
Generic synonyms: React, Respond
Derivative terms: Resistant

7. Verb. Refuse entrance or membership. "Black people were often rejected by country clubs"
Exact synonyms: Reject, Turn Away, Turn Down
Related verbs: Disdain, Freeze Off, Pooh-pooh, Reject, Scorn, Spurn, Turn Down
Derivative terms: Refusal, Reject, Turndown
Antonyms: Admit

Definition of Refuse

1. v. t. To deny, as a request, demand, invitation, or command; to decline to do or grant.

2. v. i. To deny compliance; not to comply.

3. n. Refusal.

4. n. That which is refused or rejected as useless; waste or worthless matter.

5. a. Refused; rejected; hence; left as unworthy of acceptance; of no value; worthless.

Definition of Refuse

1. Adjective. Discarded, rejected. ¹

2. Noun. Collectively, items or material that have been discarded; rubbish, garbage. ¹

3. Verb. (transitive) To decline (a request or demand). ¹

4. Verb. (intransitive) To decline a request or demand, forbear; to withhold permission. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Refuse

1. to express oneself as unwilling to accept, do, or comply with [v -FUSED, -FUSING, -FUSES]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Refuse

refurbs
refurl
refurled
refurling
refurls
refurnish
refurnished
refurnishes
refurnishing
refurnishment
refurnishments
refusable
refusal
refusal to treat
refusals
refuse (current term)
refuse-derived fuel
refuse collector
refuse disposal
refuse heap
refused
refusenik
refuseniks
refuser
refusers
refuses
refusest
refuseth
refusing
refusion

Literary usage of Refuse

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Proceedings (1876)
"THE system for utilizing town refuse, which I have been requested to describe ... The various nuisances, or refuse matters, which come under the notice of ..."

2. Proceedings by Institution of Municipal Engineers, London, Incorporated Association of Municipal and County Engineers, Association of Municipal and Sanitary Engineers and Surveyors (1886)
"THE destruction by burning of town's refuse is a subject which has already received such an amount of care and consideration from the Members of this ..."

3. Proceedings by American Society of Civil Engineers (1907)
"The calorific power of refuse, and its seasonal variations; also the seasonal variations in the calorific power of the components of refuse; ..."

4. Journal by Iron and Steel Institute (1892)
"refuse in Anthracite Seams.—The following table summarises some investigations made by Mr. \V. Griffith t on the amount of refuse contained in the ..."

5. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1898)
"The refuse rock was carried back as by modern quarry- men. In fact, one could easily imagine that these quarries were old modern ones. ..."

6. Journal by Iron and Steel Institute (1889)
"Excellent results have been obtained with such fuels as tan-yard refuse containing 68 per cent, of moisture, chips from dye-works with 60 per cent, ..."

Other Resources:

Search for Refuse on Dictionary.com!Search for Refuse on Thesaurus.com!Search for Refuse on Google!Search for Refuse on Wikipedia!

Search

Translations