definitions

rarefy

[ rair-uh-fahy ]
/ ˈrɛər əˌfaɪ /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rarefy ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

RELATED WORDS

attenuate, trim, shave, lace, reduce, decrease, disperse, weaken, cut, doctor, irrigate, spike, needle, water, cook, diminish, expand, prune, edit, extenuate

Nearby words

rarebit, raree show, rarefaction, rarefactive, rarefied, rarefy, rarely, rarely ever, rareripe, raring, raring to go

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 rarefy

British Dictionary definitions for rarefy

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