reforming

[ri-fawr-ming]

noun

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

Nearby words

Origin of reforming

First recorded in 1920–25; reform + -ing¹

Related formsan·ti·re·form·ing, adjective, nounun·re·form·ing, adjective

re-form

[ree-fawrm]

verb (used with or without object)

to form again.

Origin of re-form

1300–50; Middle English; orig. identical with reform

Related formsre-for·ma·tion, nounre-form·er, noun

Can be confusedre-form reform

reform

[ri-fawrm]

noun

the improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt, unsatisfactory, etc.: social reform; spelling reform.

an instance of this.

the amendment of conduct, belief, etc.

verb (used with object)

to change to a better state, form, etc.; improve by alteration, substitution, abolition, etc.

to cause (a person) to abandon wrong or evil ways of life or conduct.

to put an end to (abuses, disorders, etc.).

Chemistry. to subject to the process of reforming, as in refining petroleum.

verb (used without object)

to abandon evil conduct or error: The drunkard promised to reform.

adjective

(initial capital letter) of, relating to, or characteristic of Reform Jews or Reform Judaism: a Reform rabbi.

Origin of reform

1300–50; (v.) Middle English reformen < Middle French reformer, Old French < Latin refōrmāre (see re-, form); (noun) partly derivative of the v., partly < French réforme

SYNONYMS FOR reform

1. correction, reformation, betterment, amelioration. 4. better, rectify, correct, amend, emend, ameliorate, repair, restore.

ANTONYMS FOR reform

1. deterioration.

Related forms

re·form·a·ble, adjectivere·form·a·bil·i·ty, re·form·a·ble·ness, nounre·form·a·tive, adjectivere·form·a·tive·ly, adverb

re·form·a·tive·ness, nounre·form·ing·ly, adverban·ti·re·form, adjectivemis·re·form, verbpre·re·form, adjectivepro·re·form, adjectiveself-re·form, nounsu·per·re·form, noun, verb (used with object)un·re·form·a·ble, adjectiveun·re·form·a·tive, adjective

Can be confusedre-form reform

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for reforming

The biggest blowback will be against the ‘reforming’ Kentucky senator, because Republicans back cops, period.
GOP Won’t Forgive Rand for Cop Critique|Lloyd Green|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Therefore, reforming this trade is part of a comprehensive strategy, including regional governance reforms, to help end the war.
Aaron Rodgers Takes Aim at Congo’s ‘Blood Minerals’ War|John Prendergast|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Enter a candidate like Bush, talking about the importance of a federal role in reforming education and immigration.
Why Hillary vs. Jeb Would Be Great for America|Mark McKinnon|April 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When Francis was elected in March 2013, he made it clear that reforming the Vatican financial mess was a priority.
The Vatican Bank Is Back From the Dead|Barbie Latza Nadeau|April 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The new Russian leadership was far more interested in embracing Western-style democratic capitalism than in reforming socialism.
Meet Stephen F. Cohen, Vladimir Putin's Best Friend in the American Media|Cathy Young|March 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is to be noted that in all the reforming sects of the commencement of the thirteenth century the two sexes were closely united.
Life of St. Francis of Assisi|Paul Sabatier
He had begun what was afterward called "his passion for reforming everything."
Famous Affinities of History, Vol 1-4, Complete|Lyndon Orr
Those who say that punishment is for the purpose of reforming the prisoner are not familiar with human psychology.
Crime: Its Cause and Treatment|Clarence Darrow
He promised to return to Truth and Nature, the invariable programme of all attempts at reforming the drama.
The English Stage|Augustin Filon
What really sheltered the reforming movement was Wolsey's indifference to all but political matters.
History of the English People, Volume III (of 8)|John Richard Green

British Dictionary definitions for reforming

reform

verb

(tr) to improve (an existing institution, law, practice, etc) by alteration or correction of abuses

to give up or cause to give up a reprehensible habit or immoral way of life

chem to change the molecular structure of (a hydrocarbon) to make it suitable for use as petrol by heat, pressure, and the action of catalysts

noun

an improvement or change for the better, esp as a result of correction of legal or political abuses or malpractices

a principle, campaign, or measure aimed at achieving such change

improvement of morals or behaviour, esp by giving up some vice

Derived Formsreformable, adjectivereformative, adjectivereformer, noun

Word Origin for reform

C14: via Old French from Latin reformāre to form again

re-form

verb

to form anew

Derived Formsre-formation, noun

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

Word Origin and History for reforming

reform

c.1300, "to convert into another and better form," from Old French reformer "rebuild, reconstruct, recreate" (12c.), from Latin reformare "to form again, change, transform, alter," from re- "again" (see re-) + formare "to form" (see form (n.)). Intransitive sense from 1580s.

Meaning "to bring (a person) away from an evil course of life" is recorded from early 15c.; of governments, institutions, etc., from early 15c. Related: Reformed; reforming. Reformed churches (1580s) usually are Calvinist as opposed to Lutheran. Reformed Judaism (1843) is a movement initiated in Germany by Moses Mendelssohn (1729-1786). Reform school is attested from 1859.

reform

"any proceeding which brings back a better order of things," 1660s, from reform (v.) and in some uses from French réforme. As a branch of Judaism from 1843.

re-form

"form again," mid-14c., from re- + form (v.). Related: Re-formed; re-forming; re-formation.

reforming

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of reforming

re-form

verb (used with or without object)

Origin of re-form

reform

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

adjective

Origin of reform

Examples from the Web for reforming

reform

verb

noun

Word Origin for reform

re-form

verb

reform

reform

re-form