Definitions for refrain
rɪˈfreɪnre·frain

Princeton's WordNet(3.33 / 6 votes)Rate this definition:

1. refrain, chorus(verb)

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

2. refrain, forbear(verb)

   resist doing something

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

3. abstain, refrain, desist(verb)

   choose not to consume

   "I abstain from alcohol"

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

1. Refrain(verb)

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

2. Refrain(verb)

   to abstain from

3. Refrain(verb)

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

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

Origin: [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. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, "Meditations", book 6.:

   To refrain from imitation is the best revenge.

2. Lane Olinghouse:

   To err is human to refrain from laughing, humane.

3. Pythagoras:

   In anger we should refrain both from speech and action.

4. Ramana Pemmaraju:

   In the best interest of profession, a writer should sometimes refrain from writing.

5. Walter Dwight:

   'We must do something' is the unanimous refrain. 'You begin' is the deadening refrain.

Images & Illustrations of refrain

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