'Refrain' definitions:

Definition of 'refrain'

(from WordNet)
noun
The part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers [syn: refrain, chorus]
verb
Resist doing something; "He refrained from hitting him back"; "she could not forbear weeping" [syn: refrain, forbear] [ant: act, move]
verb
Choose not to consume; "I abstain from alcohol" [syn: abstain, refrain, desist] [ant: consume, have, ingest, take, take in]

Definition of 'Refrain'

From: GCIDE
  • Refrain \Re*frain"\ (r[-e]*fr[=a]n"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Refrained (-fr[=a]nd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Refraining.] [OE. refreinen, OF. refrener, F. refr['e]ner, fr. L. refrenare; influenced by OF. refraindre to restrain, moderate, fr. LL. refrangere, for L. refringere to break up, break (see Refract). L. refrenare is fr. pref. re- back + frenum bridle; cf. Skr. dh[.r] to hold.]
  • 1. To hold back; to restrain; to keep within prescribed bounds; to curb; to govern. [1913 Webster]
  • His reason refraineth not his foul delight or talent. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
  • Refrain thy foot from their path. --Prov. i. 15. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To abstain from. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • Who, requiring a remedy for his gout, received no other counsel than to refrain cold drink. --Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Refrain'

From: GCIDE
  • Refrain \Re*frain"\, v. i. To keep one's self from action or interference; to hold aloof; to forbear; to abstain. [1913 Webster]
  • Refrain from these men, and let them alone. --Acts v. 38. [1913 Webster]
  • They refrained therefrom [eating flesh] some time after. --Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster]
  • Syn: To hold back; forbear; abstain; withhold. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Refrain'

From: GCIDE
  • Refrain \Re*frain"\, n. [F. refrain, fr. OF. refraindre; cf. Pr. refranhs a refrain, refranher to repeat. See Refract,Refrain, v.] The burden of a song; a phrase or verse which recurs at the end of each of the separate stanzas or divisions of a poetic composition. [1913 Webster]
  • We hear the wild refrain. --Whittier. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'refrain'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Refrain'