Definitions for refrain
rɪˈfreɪnre·frain

Princeton's WordNet(3.57 / 7 votes)Rate this definition:

1. refrain, chorusverb

   the part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers

2. refrain, forbearverb

   resist doing something

   "He refrained from hitting him back"; "she could not forbear weeping"

3. abstain, refrain, desistverb

   choose not to consume

   "I abstain from alcohol"

Webster Dictionary(1.33 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Refrainverb

   to hold back; to restrain; to keep within prescribed bounds; to curb; to govern

   Etymology: [OE. refreinen, OF. refrener, F. refrner, fr. L. refrenare; influenced by OF. refraindre to restrain, moderate, fr. LL. refrangere, for L. refringere to break up, break (see Refract). L. refrenare is fr. pref. re- back + frenum bridle; cf. Skr. dh to hold.]

2. Refrainverb

   to abstain from

   Etymology: [OE. refreinen, OF. refrener, F. refrner, fr. L. refrenare; influenced by OF. refraindre to restrain, moderate, fr. LL. refrangere, for L. refringere to break up, break (see Refract). L. refrenare is fr. pref. re- back + frenum bridle; cf. Skr. dh to hold.]

3. Refrainverb

   to keep one's self from action or interference; to hold aloof; to forbear; to abstain

   Etymology: [OE. refreinen, OF. refrener, F. refrner, fr. L. refrenare; influenced by OF. refraindre to restrain, moderate, fr. LL. refrangere, for L. refringere to break up, break (see Refract). L. refrenare is fr. pref. re- back + frenum bridle; cf. Skr. dh to hold.]

4. Refrain

   the burden of a song; a phrase or verse which recurs at the end of each of the separate stanzas or divisions of a poetic composition

   Etymology: [OE. refreinen, OF. refrener, F. refrner, fr. L. refrenare; influenced by OF. refraindre to restrain, moderate, fr. LL. refrangere, for L. refringere to break up, break (see Refract). L. refrenare is fr. pref. re- back + frenum bridle; cf. Skr. dh to hold.]

Freebase(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Refrain

   A refrain from Vulgar Latin refringere, "to repeat", and later from Old French refraindre) is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song. Poetic fixed forms that feature refrains include the villanelle, the virelay, and the sestina. The use of refrains is particularly associated with where the verse-chorus-verse song structure typically places a refrain in almost every song. The refrain or chorus often sharply contrasts the verse melodically, rhythmically, and harmonically, and assumes a higher level of dynamics and activity, often with added instrumentation. Chorus form, or strophic form, is a sectional and/or additive way of structuring a piece of music based on the repetition of one formal section or block played repeatedly. See also verse-chorus form.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Refrain

   rē-frān′, n. a burden or chorus recurring at the end of each division of a poem: the musical form to which the burden of a song is set: an after-taste or other sense impression. [O. Fr. refrain—refraindre—L. refringĕre (refrangĕre).]

2. Refrain

   rē-frān′, v.t. to curb: to restrain.—v.i. to keep from action: to forbear.—ns. Refrain′er; Refrain′ment. [O. Fr. refraindre (Fr. refréner)—Low L. refrenāre—re-, back, frenum, a bridle.]

Anagrams for refrain »

1. Ferrian

How to pronounce refrain?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say refrain in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of refrain in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of refrain in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of refrain in a Sentence

1. President Tayyip Erdogan:

   If the putschist Haftar's attacks against the people and legitimate government of Libya continue, we will never refrain from teaching him the lesson he deserves, it is our duty to protect our kin in Libya.

2. Andreas Mundt:

   The only choice the user has is either to accept the comprehensive combination of data or to refrain from using the social network, in such a difficult situation the user's choice can not be referred to as voluntary consent.

3. Baris Ince:

   Nobody has done a proper corruption story since ... Has bribery come to an end in Turkey? Obviously not, but journalists don't believe they can win a court case, so they say, 'I'll spare myself the trouble and refrain from writing such stories', which is extremely troublesome in terms of freedom of speech and press.

4. Anuj Somany:

   One should always maintain a safe distance from the people who like a person’s online post but refrain to do so the same on others social media account UNDER IDENTICAL CONDITION.

5. Anthon St Maarten:

   Until one nation ceases its attempts to dominate another, there will never be true freedom. Until one religion relinquishes its quest to prove its god superior to that of another, there shall never be world peace. We will never truly prosper or experience lasting harmony, until we refrain from preaching the gospel of our own moral values and our personal preferences by forcing it upon others.

Images & Illustrations of refrain

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