Definitions for refuse
ˈrɛf yusrefuse

Princeton's WordNet(4.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. garbage, refuse, food waste, scrapsverb

   food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)

2. refuse, declineverb

   show unwillingness towards

   "he declined to join the group on a hike"

3. refuse, reject, pass up, turn down, declineverb

   refuse to accept

   "He refused my offer of hospitality"

4. defy, resist, refuseverb

   elude, especially in a baffling way

   "This behavior defies explanation"

5. deny, refuseverb

   refuse to let have

   "She denies me every pleasure"; "he denies her her weekly allowance"

6. resist, reject, refuseverb

   resist immunologically the introduction of some foreign tissue or organ

   "His body rejected the liver of the donor"

7. reject, turn down, turn away, refuseverb

   refuse entrance or membership

   "They turned away hundreds of fans"; "Black people were often rejected by country clubs"

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Refuseadjective

   Unworthy of reception; left when the rest is taken.

   Etymology: from the verb.

   Every thing vile and refuse they destroyed. Sam. xv. 9.

   Please to bestow on him the refuse letters; he hopes by printing them to get a plentiful provision. Spectator.

2. Refusenoun

   That which remains disregarded when the rest is taken.

   We dare not disgrace our worldly superiours with offering unto them such refuse, as we bring unto God himself. Hook.

   Many kinds have much refuse, which countervails that which they have excellent. Francis Bacon.

   I know not whether it be more shame or wonder, to see that men can so put off ingenuity, as to descend to so base a vice; yet we daily see it done, and that not only by the scum and refuse of the people. Government of the Tongue.

   Down with the falling stream the refuse run,
   To raise with joyful news his drooping son. Dryden.

   This humourist keeps more than he wants, and gives a vast refuse of his superfluities to purchase heaven. Addison.

3. To REFUSEverb

   Etymology: refuser, Fr.

   1. To deny what is solicited or required.

   If he should chuse the right casket, you should refuse to perform his father’s will, if you should refuse to accept him. William Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice.

   Common experience has justly a mighty influence on the minds of men, to make them give or refuse credit to any thing proposed. John Locke.

   Women are made as they themselves would choose;
   Too proud to ask, too humble to refuse. Samuel Garth.

   2. To reject; to dismiss without a grant.

   I may neither chuse whom I would, nor refuse whom I dislike. William Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice.

4. To Refuseverb

   Not to accept.

   Wonder not then what God for you saw good
   If I refuse not, but convert, as you,
   To proper substance. John Milton.

Webster Dictionary(3.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Refuseverb

   to deny, as a request, demand, invitation, or command; to decline to do or grant

2. Refuseverb

   to throw back, or cause to keep back (as the center, a wing, or a flank), out of the regular aligment when troops ar/ about to engage the enemy; as, to refuse the right wing while the left wing attacks

3. Refuseverb

   to decline to accept; to reject; to deny the request or petition of; as, to refuse a suitor

4. Refuseverb

   to disown

5. Refuseverb

   to deny compliance; not to comply

6. Refusenoun

   refusal

7. Refusenoun

   that which is refused or rejected as useless; waste or worthless matter

8. Refuseadjective

   refused; rejected; hence; left as unworthy of acceptance; of no value; worthless

9. Etymology: [F. refuser, either from (assumed) LL. refusare to refuse, v. freq. of L. refundere to pour back, give back, restore (see Refund to repay), or. fr. L. recusare to decline, refuse cf. Accuse, Ruse), influenced by L. refutare to drive back, repel, refute. Cf. Refute.]

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

1. Refuse

   rē-fūz′, v.t. to reject: to deny, as a request, &c.: to disown: to fail to receive, to repel: (mil.) to hold troops back from the regular alignment.—v.i. to decline acceptance: not to comply.—adj. Refū′sable, capable of being refused.—ns. Refū′sal, denial of anything requested: rejection: the right of taking in preference to others; Rēfū′ser. [Fr. refuser, prob. due to confusion of L. refutāre, to drive back, recusāre, to make an objection against.]

2. Refuse

   ref′ūs, adj. refused: worthless.—n. that which is rejected or left as worthless: dross.

3. Refuse

   rē-fūz′, v.t. to melt again.—n. Rēfū′sion, repeated fusion or melting, as of metals: restoration.

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. refuse

   Song lyrics by refuse -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by refuse on the Lyrics.com website.

Matched Categories

1. • Elude
   • Keep
   • React

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'refuse' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #4220

2. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'refuse' in Verbs Frequency: #218

How to pronounce refuse?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say refuse in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of refuse in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of refuse in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of refuse in a Sentence

1. Naftali Bennett:

   If I get an order to evacuate a Jew from his home, to expel him, me, personally, my conscience would not let me do it. I’ll ask my commander to excuse me, but I won’t publicly call on others to refuse an order. I personally can’t …

2. Madame de Tencin:

   Never refuse any advance of friendship, for if nine out of ten bring you nothing, one alone may repay you.

3. Skyelar Rae Dinburg:

   I am a warrior dedicated to sharing my daughter’s story and helping to raise awareness on the taboo topic of pregnancy and infant loss, i refuse to let my daughter die for no reason or in vain. It is now my job to keep her memory alive, and to help others affected by such tragedy.

4. Steve Scalise:

   The reports that there will be no new indictments confirm what we've known all along: there was never any collusion with Russia. The only collusion was between Democrats and many in the media who peddled this lie because they continue to refuse to accept the results of the 2016 election.

5. Kristen Bell:

   I refuse to spend my final moments being allowed to play with these people in misery -- I think that would be pitiful, i didn't want to let that ruin it, because it is a gift. It really does feel like we did it for a reason, and when you see the ending you'll know.

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