reforming

[ri-fawr-ming]

noun

1. Chemistry.,  the process of cracking low-octane petroleum fractions in order to increase the octane number.

Other Word Forms

• antireforming adjective
• unreforming adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of reforming¹

First recorded in 1920–25; reform + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

The plan put forth by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins calls for helping ranchers through measures such as reforming endangered-species regulations and increasing access to grazing and financing.

Read more on MarketWatch

If Mieli were to succeed in truly reforming the Argentine economy by ending its public spending addiction, he would put an end to the country’s sad history of decades of relative economic decline.

Read more on Barron's

It said there were "better options" for increasing tax on pensions, such as reforming the tax-free element.

Read more on BBC

"We're reforming a fragmented system and laying the foundations for a more reliable, efficient and accountable railway - one that puts passengers first and delivers the high standards they rightly expect."

Read more on BBC

Though I agree with many of Jane Leavy’s suggestions for reforming baseball, I think she omitted an important one: No more music, drumbeats, sound effects, and so forth after every pitch.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal