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refrain

re·frain
R r

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [ri-freyn]
    • /rɪˈfreɪn/
    • /rɪˈfreɪn/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [ri-freyn]
    • /rɪˈfreɪn/

Definitions of refrain word

  • verb without object refrain to abstain from an impulse to say or do something (often followed by from): I refrained from telling him what I thought. 1
  • verb with object refrain Archaic. to curb. 1
  • noun refrain a phrase or verse recurring at intervals in a song or poem, especially at the end of each stanza; chorus. 1
  • noun refrain Music. a musical setting for the refrain of a poem. any melody. the principal, recurrent section of a rondo. 1
  • intransitive verb refrain choose not to 1
  • intransitive verb refrain avoid, abstain from 1

Information block about the term

Origin of refrain

First appearance:

before 1300
One of the 15% oldest English words
1300-50; Middle English refreinen < Old French refrener < Latin refrēnāre to bridle, equivalent to re- re- + frēn(um) bridle + -āre infinitive suffix

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Refrain

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

refrain popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 91% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

refrain usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for refrain

verb refrain

  • abnegate — to deny to oneself; renounce (privileges, pleasure, etc)
  • abstain — If you abstain from something, usually something you want to do, you deliberately do not do it.
  • bitted — Also called bollard. a strong post of wood or iron projecting, usually in pairs, above the deck of a ship, used for securing cables, lines for towing, etc.
  • bitting — Also called bollard. a strong post of wood or iron projecting, usually in pairs, above the deck of a ship, used for securing cables, lines for towing, etc.
  • blow off — If you blow something off, you ignore it or choose not to deal with it.

noun refrain

  • assonance — the use of the same vowel sound with different consonants or the same consonant with different vowels in successive words or stressed syllables, as in a line of verse. Examples are time and light or mystery and mastery
  • bebop — Bebop is a form of jazz music with complex harmonies and rhythms. The abbreviation bop is also used.
  • by-word — a word or phrase associated with some person or thing; a characteristic expression, typical greeting, or the like.
  • canticle — a nonmetrical hymn, derived from the Bible and used in the liturgy of certain Christian churches
  • catchword — A catchword is a word or phrase that becomes popular or well-known, for example, because it is associated with a political campaign.

Antonyms for refrain

verb refrain

  • accessed — the ability, right, or permission to approach, enter, speak with, or use; admittance: They have access to the files.
  • accessing — the ability, right, or permission to approach, enter, speak with, or use; admittance: They have access to the files.
  • accost — If someone accosts another person, especially a stranger, they stop them or go up to them and speak to them in a way that seems rude or threatening.
  • act out — If you act out an event which has happened, you copy the actions which took place and make them into a play.
  • act — When you act, you do something for a particular purpose.

noun refrain

  • convenance — suitable behaviour; propriety
  • homework — schoolwork assigned to be done outside the classroom (distinguished from classwork).
  • emission — The production and discharge of something, especially gas or radiation.
  • exudation — The act of exuding.

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See also

Matching words

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