rarefied
[ rair-uh-fahyd ]
/ ˈrɛər əˌfaɪd /
adjective
extremely high or elevated; lofty; exalted: the rarefied atmosphere of a scholarly symposium.
of, belonging to, or appealing to an exclusive group; select; esoteric: rarefied tastes.
OTHER WORDS FROM rarefied
ul·tra·rar·e·fied, adjective un·rar·e·fied, adjectiveWords nearby rarefied
rare gas,
rare-earth element,
rarebit,
raree show,
rarefaction,
rarefied,
rarefy,
rarely,
rarely ever,
rareripe,
raring
Definition for rarefied (2 of 2)
rarefy
[ rair-uh-fahy ]
/ ˈrɛər əˌfaɪ /
verb (used with object), rar·e·fied, rar·e·fy·ing.
to make rare or rarer; make less dense: to rarefy a gas.
to make more refined, spiritual, or exalted.
verb (used without object), rar·e·fied, rar·e·fy·ing.
to become rare or less dense; become thinned: Moisture rarefies when heated.
Origin of rarefy
OTHER WORDS FROM rarefy
rar·e·fi·a·ble, adjective rar·e·fi·er, nounExample sentences from the Web for rarefied
British Dictionary definitions for rarefied (1 of 2)
rarefied
/ (ˈrɛərɪˌfaɪd) /
adjective
exalted in nature or character; lofty
a rarefied spiritual existence
current within only a small group; esoteric or exclusive
(of a gas, esp the atmosphere at high altitudes) having a low density; thin
British Dictionary definitions for rarefied (2 of 2)
rarefy
/ (ˈrɛərɪˌfaɪ) /
verb -fies, -fying or -fied
to make or become rarer or less dense; thin out
Derived forms of rarefy
rarefiable, adjective rarefier, nounWord Origin for rarefy
C14: from Old French
raréfier, from Latin
rārēfacere, from
rārus
rare
1 +
facere to make