refinement

raffinement

Bonnes manières accompagnées d'une connaissance de l'art, de la culture et des usages de la société.

En anglais simple : Good manners and an understanding of art, culture, and polite society.

• Her manners showed great refinement.
• He valued kindness more than social refinement.
• Their guests admired the host’s refinement and thoughtful conversation.

Synonymes : cultivation, polish

Contraires : coarseness

Expressions courantes : person of refinement, great refinement

raffinage, purification

Élimination des substances indésirables d'une matière, ou matière plus pure obtenue ainsi.

En anglais simple : The process of removing unwanted substances from a material, or the cleaner material produced.

• Refinement removes unwanted material.
• The refinement of raw sugar takes several stages.
• Further refinement produced a much purer metal.

Comment l'utiliser : refinement of something (The refinement of this oil requires careful heating.)

Synonymes : purification, refining

Expressions courantes : refinement of something, oil refinement

raffinement, élégance

Qualité d'un style ou d'une apparence qui montre de la grâce et du bon goût.

En anglais simple : A graceful, tasteful quality in style or appearance.

• The room has an air of refinement.
• Simple lines give the design a sense of refinement.
• Her clothing combined comfort with quiet refinement.

Synonymes : elegance, sophistication

Contraires : coarseness

Expressions courantes : elegance and refinement, refinement of style