rarefied

[ rair-uh-fahyd ]
/ ˈrɛər əˌfaɪd /
SEE 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.

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Origin of rarefied

First recorded in 1625–35; rarefy + -ed2

OTHER WORDS FROM rarefied

ul·tra·rar·e·fied, adjectiveun·rar·e·fied, adjective

Words nearby rarefied

rare gas, rare-earth element, rarebit, raree show, rarefaction, rarefied, rarefy, rarely, rarely ever, rareripe, raring

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

OTHER WORDS FROM rarefy

rar·e·fi·a·ble, adjectiverar·e·fi·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to rarefied

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

Example sentences 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 forms of rarefy

rarefiable, 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