Definitions for refrain
rɪˈfreɪnre·frain

Princeton's WordNet(3.57 / 7 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

   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. Refrain(verb)

   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. Refrain(verb)

   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. Henry Miller:

   Living apart and at peace with myself, I came to realize more vividly the meaning of the doctrine of acceptance. To refrain from giving advice, to refrain from meddling in the affairs of others, to refrain, even though the motives be the highest, from tampering with another's way of life - so simple, yet so difficult for an active spirit. Hands off

2. 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.

3. John Bolton:

   The US strongly supports Israel's efforts to defend The US sovereignty, and we call on Hezbollah to stop its tunneling into Israel and to refrain from escalation and violence, more broadly, we call on Iran and all of its agents to stop their regional aggression and provocation, which pose an unacceptable threat to Israeli and regional security.

4. Georgy Margvelashvili:

   Unfortunately, instead of defusing the situation, the statement made today by the head of the government has added tension to an already difficult situation, i call on everyone to refrain from taking any drastic steps and to rein in their emotions.

5. 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.

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