Dictionary entries for 'rarefy'

Synonyms

attenuate
thin

rar·e·fy,
also rar·i·fy (râŕə-fī́)

[Middle English rarefien, from Old French rarefier, from Medieval Latin rārificāre, alteration of Latin rārēfacere, rārus, rare, + facere, to make.]

verb: -fied, also -fied, -fy·ing, -fy·ing, -fies, -fies

transitive verb

To make thin, less compact, or less dense.
To purify or refine.

intransitive verb

To become thin or less compact or dense.

derivatives

raŕe·fía·ble: adjective

verb: -fied, also -fied, -fy·ing, -fy·ing, -fies, -fies

transitive verb

intransitive verb

derivatives

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition