Word a Day
refractory
What does refractory mean?
refractory (adjective): stubbornly resistant to authority or control.
Definition: Princeton WordNet 3.1.
How do you use refractory in a sentence?
- A refractory child. (Princeton WordNet 3.1)
How do you pronounce refractory?
/ɹəˈfɹæktəɹi/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does refractory come from?
From Latin refractārius (“obstinate”), from refrāctus, past participle of refringere (“to break up”).
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Test yourself: do you know “refractory”?
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What does “refractory” mean?
stubbornly resistant to authority or control
Right! That's what “refractory” means.
restricting according to rules or principles
Not quite: that's what regulatory means.
easily damaged or requiring careful handling
Not quite: that's what delicate means.
capable of working together without conflict
Not quite: that's what compatible means.
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