definitions

rarefied

[ rair-uh-fahyd ]
/ ˈrɛər əˌfaɪd /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rarefied ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

extremely high or elevated; lofty; exalted: the rarefied atmosphere of a scholarly symposium.
of, belonging to, or appealing to an exclusive group; select; esoteric: rarefied tastes.

RELATED WORDS

exalted, esoteric, lofty, select, elevated, private, cliquish

Nearby words

rare-earth metals, rarebit, raree show, rarefaction, rarefactive, rarefied, rarefy, rarely, rarely ever, rareripe, rarify

Origin of rarefied

First recorded in 1625–35; rarefy + -ed2
Related formsul·tra·rar·e·fied, adjectiveun·rar·e·fied, adjective

Definition for rarefied (2 of 2)

rarefy

[ rair-uh-fahy ]
/ ˈrɛər əˌfaɪ /

verb (used with object), rar·e·fied, rar·e·fy·ing.

to make rare or rarer; make less dense: to rarefy a gas.
to make more refined, spiritual, or exalted.

verb (used without object), rar·e·fied, rar·e·fy·ing.

to become rare or less dense; become thinned: Moisture rarefies when heated.

Origin of rarefy

1350–1400; Middle English rarefien < Middle French rarefier < Latin rārēfacere, equivalent to rārē-, combining form of rārus rare1 (for expected rāri-; orig. of -ē- unclear) + facere to make; see -fy
Related formsrar·e·fi·a·ble, adjectiverar·e·fi·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for rarefied

British Dictionary definitions for rarefied (1 of 2)

rarefied

/ (ˈrɛərɪˌfaɪd) /

adjective

exalted in nature or character; loftya rarefied spiritual existence
current within only a small group; esoteric or exclusive
(of a gas, esp the atmosphere at high altitudes) having a low density; thin

British Dictionary definitions for rarefied (2 of 2)

rarefy

/ (ˈrɛərɪˌfaɪ) /

verb -fies, -fying or -fied

to make or become rarer or less dense; thin out
Derived Formsrarefiable, adjectiverarefier, noun

Word Origin for rarefy

C14: from Old French raréfier, from Latin rārēfacere, from rārus rare 1 + facere to make
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for rarefied

rarefy

v.

late 14c., from Old French rarefier (14c.) and directly from Medieval Latin rarificare, from Latin rarefacere "make rare," from rarus "rare, thin" (see rare (adj.1)) + facere "to make" (see factitious). Related: Rarefied.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper