refinery

[ri-fahy-nuh-ree]

noun

plural

refineries 

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

refinery

/ rɪˈfaɪnərɪ /

noun

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

refinery

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of refinery¹

First recorded in 1720–30; refine + -ery

Example Sentences

U.S. crude oil inventories rose for a third consecutive week with a drop in refinery capacity use partly offsetting a decline in imports and rise in exports, according to data released Thursday by the U.S.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Plans for a groundbreaking rare earths refinery in Saltend on Humber have been abandoned, after the company behind the project decided to seek investment in the United States instead.

Read more on BBC

Ukraine has meanwhile launched a series of attacks on Russian oil refineries and claims to have inflicted petrol shortages in many areas.

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Ukraine has meanwhile ramped up attacks on Russian oil refineries, in border regions and beyond.

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The UK government is also pursuing a major Indian oil refinery and four Chinese oil terminals in a package of 90 new sanctions.

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Related Words

• refiner www.thesaurus.com