refinery

American  

[ri-fahy-nuh-ree] / rɪˈfaɪ nə ri /

noun

plural

refineries

1. an establishment for refining something, as metal, sugar, or petroleum.

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refinery British  

/ rɪˈfaɪnərɪ /

noun

1. a factory for the purification of some crude material, such as ore, sugar, oil, etc

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refinery Scientific  

/ rĭ-fī′nə-rē /

1. An industrial plant that uses mechanical and chemical means to purify a substance, such as petroleum or sugar, or to convert it to a form that is more useful.

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Etymology

Origin of refinery

First recorded in 1720–30; refine + -ery

Example Sentences

What little oil left ports over the next 10 days was all bound for the U.S. or earmarked to be used in Venezuela’s refineries to create fuel for people and industries there.

From The Wall Street Journal

They own refineries and cement plants and hotels, and so it really comes down to money.

From Salon

The only ships that are loading crude at Venezuela's ports are bound for the US and for Venezuelan refineries, some of which are not close to the oil fields, the company said.

From BBC

Machinery sales also faltered in the latest month, though petroleum sales were up strongly, in part after a maintenance shutdown at a major refinery ended and prices for refined products rose.

From The Wall Street Journal

That would mean an industry transformed, with access to power, rather than an oil refinery, influencing where ships dock.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• refiner