'Refractory' definitions:
Definition of 'refractory'
(from WordNet)
adjective
Not responding to treatment; "a stubborn infection"; "a refractory case of acne"; "stubborn rust stains" [syn: refractory, stubborn]
adjective
Temporarily unresponsive or not fully responsive to nervous or sexual stimuli; "the refractory period of a muscle fiber"
adjective
Stubbornly resistant to authority or control; "a fractious animal that would not submit to the harness"; "a refractory child" [syn: fractious, refractory, recalcitrant]
noun
Lining consisting of material with a high melting point; used to line the inside walls of a furnace [syn: furnace lining, refractory]
Definition of 'Refractory'
From: GCIDE
- Refractory \Re*frac"to*ry\ (-r?), a. [L. refractorius, fr. refringere: cf. F. refractaire. See Refract.]
- 1. Obstinate in disobedience; contumacious; stubborn; unmanageable; as, a refractory child; a refractory beast. [1913 Webster]
- Raging appetites that are Most disobedient and refractory. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Resisting ordinary treatment; difficult of fusion, reduction, or the like; -- said especially of metals and the like, which do not readily yield to heat, or to the hammer; as, a refractory ore. [1913 Webster]
- Syn: Perverse; contumacious; unruly; stubborn; obstinate; unyielding; ungovernable; unmanageable. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Refractory'
From: GCIDE
- Refractory \Re*frac"to*ry\, n.
- 1. A refractory person. --Bp. Hall. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Refractoriness. [Obs.] --Jer. TAylor. [1913 Webster]
- 3. OPottery) A piece of ware covered with a vaporable flux and placed in a kiln, to communicate a glaze to the other articles. --Knight. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'refractory'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- adversary,
- adversative,
- adverse,
- alien,
- antagonistic,
- anti,
- antipathetic,
- antithetic,
- at odds,
- averse,
- beyond control,
- breachy,
- bullheaded,
- china,
- clashing,
- clay,
- competitive,
- complaining,
- con,
- conflicting,
- contradictory,
- contrary,
- contumacious,
- counter,
- cross,
- cursory,
- defiant,
- deviant,
- differing,
- disaccordant,
- disagreeing,
- disinclined,
- disobedient,
- disputatious,
- disputing,
- dissentient,
- dissenting,
- dissident,
- enamel,
- enemy,
- forced,
- fractious,
- headstrong,
- hostile,
- impatient of control,
- incorrigible,
- indisposed,
- indocile,
- indomitable,
- inimical,
- insuppressible,
- intractable,
- involuntary,
- irrepressible,
- mulish,
- mutinous,
- negative,
- nonconformable,
- nonconforming,
- noncooperative,
- nonobservant,
- objecting,
- obstinate,
- obstreperous,
- obstructive,
- on the barricades,
- opponent,
- opposed,
- opposing,
- opposite,
- oppositional,
- oppositive,
- oppugnant,
- ornery,
- out of hand,
- overthwart,
- perfunctory,
- perverse,
- porcelain,
- proof against,
- protesting,
- rebellious,
- recalcitrant,
- recusant,
- reluctant,
- renitent,
- repellent,
- repugnant,
- resistant,
- resisting,
- resistive,
- restive,
- retardant,
- retardative,
- rival,
- self-willed,
- shrewish,
- stiff-necked,
- stubborn,
- sulky,
- sullen,
- unadaptable,
- unadjustable,
- unbiddable,
- uncompliant,
- unconforming,
- unconsenting,
- uncontrollable,
- uncooperative,
- unfavorable,
- unfriendly,
- ungovernable,
- unmalleable,
- unmanageable,
- unmoldable,
- unpropitious,
- unruly,
- unsubmissive,
- unwilling,
- unyielding,
- up in arms,
- wild,
- withstanding