refractory
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refractory
- /ɹɪˈfɹæk.tə.ɹi/ UK
- /ɹɪˈfɹæk.təɹ.i/ Canada, US
- /ɹɪˈfɹæk.tə.ɹi/ Australia
- /ɹəˈfɹæk.tə.ɹi/ New Zealand
Rhymes with -æktəɹi
Where it comes from
From Latin refractārius (“obstinate”), from refrāctus, past participle of refringere (“to break up”). Originally refractary, refractarie, but reanalysed after other adjectives in -ory.
adjective more refractory · most refractory
-
Obstinate and unruly; strongly opposed to something.
[…] in most instances attempts to coerce the refractory and disobedient have been the signals of bloody wars, […]
Similar: contrary, fractious, adamant, ardent, grim, untiring, bent on, bloody-minded, bullheaded, certain, chronic, confirmed
-
Not affected by great heat.
Pure lime is extremely refractory, but readily fusible if any silex is brought in contact with it; […]
Similar: heat-resistant, fireproof
- Resistant to treatment; not responding adequately to therapy. Many of the vague and refractory cases of neck and shoulder pain and of migraine may be due to cervical disc disease.
- Incapable of registering a reaction or stimulus. The production of a generator potential leaves a refractory state in the receptor membrane […]
noun refractories
- A material or piece of material, such as a brick, that has a very high melting point.
- A plant or factory that produces such material.
Translations
Every language
adj obstinate; strongly opposed
| Español | refractario |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 倔強的 /倔强的 juéjiàng de |
| Português | refratário |
| Français | réfractaire |
| Deutsch | widerborstig, widerspenstig, störrisch, halsstarrig, renitent, widersätzlich |
| Italiano | refrattario, refrattaria |
| Ελληνικά | ανυπότακτος anypótaktos |
adj medicine: difficult to heal
| Español | refractario |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 難治的 /难治的 nánzhì de |
| Português | refratário |
| Français | réfractaire |
| Deutsch | therapierefraktär, nicht auf Therapie ansprechend |
| Italiano | refrattario |
| Ελληνικά | ανθεκτικός anthektikós, δυσίατος dysíatos |
adj not affected by great heat
| Español | refractario |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 耐火的 nàihuǒ de |
| Português | refratário |
| Français | réfractaire |
| Deutsch | hitzebeständig, feuerbeständig, feuerfest, hitzefest, refraktär, widerstandsfähig |
| Italiano | refrattario |
| Ελληνικά | δύστηκτος dýstiktos, πυρίμαχος pyrímachos |
| Русский | жаропрочный žaropročnyj, огнеупорный ogneupornyj |
adj biology: incapable of registering a reaction or stimulus
| 中文 | 不應的 /不应的 bùyìng de |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | unbeeinflussbar, refraktär, passiv, unempfindlich, unempfänglich, reizunempfindlich |
noun material with a high melting point
| Deutsch | Feuerfestmaterial, feuerfestes Material, feuerfester Stoff, feuerfester Baustoff |
|---|---|
| Italiano | refrattario |
| Ελληνικά | πυρίμαχος pyrímachos |
Talk about this word "refractory." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/refractory. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. refractory. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/refractory "refractory." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/refractory.Cite this
@misc{refractory_2026,
title = {refractory},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/refractory},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
