Refractory
[rɪ'frækt(ə)rɪ] or [rɪ'fræktəri]
Definition
(adj.) temporarily unresponsive or not fully responsive to nervous or sexual stimuli; 'the refractory period of a muscle fiber' .
(adj.) not responding to treatment; 'a stubborn infection'; 'a refractory case of acne'; 'stubborn rust stains' .
Edited by Constantine--From WordNet
Definition
(a.) Obstinate in disobedience; contumacious; stubborn; unmanageable; as, a refractory child; a refractory beast.
(a.) 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.
(n.) A refractory person.
(n.) Refractoriness.
(n.) OPottery) A piece of ware covered with a vaporable flux and placed in a kiln, to communicate a glaze to the other articles.
Edited by Katy
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. Stubborn, obstinate, stiff, perverse, dogged, mulish, heady, headstrong, cross-grained, intractable, unyielding, contumacious, disobedient, unruly, pig-headed, ungovernable, cantankerous.
Inputed by Bartholomew
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Perverse, contumacious, stubborn, unruly, obstinate, unmanageable, mutinous,rebellious, recalcitrant
ANT:Obedient, docile, amenable, manageable
Edited by Daniel
Definition
adj. breaking through rules: unruly: unmanageable: obstinate: perverse: difficult of fusion as metals &c.: not susceptible as to disease.—adv. Refrac′torily.—n. Refrac′toriness.
Checked by Charlie
Examples
- The slave-owner can whip his refractory slave to death,--the capitalist can starve him to death. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- The bottom is formed of a refractory stone, which is renewable. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- The soldiers were already very uncomfortable and very refractory. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Iron, somewhat more refractory, appeared later, but it also has an early history, and is mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible (Genesis iv. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- The means commonly employed, however, the imprisonment of all the refractory members, one would think, were forcible enough. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- He also placed some of these refractory metals directly in the circuit, bringing them to incandescence, and used silicon in powdered form in glass tubes placed in the electric circuit. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- Carbon crucible kept brilliantly incandescent by current in vacuo, for obtaining reaction with refractory metals. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- This uses bits set with diamonds which, by their extreme hardness, cut through the most refractory rock with great rapidity. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- Master Bardell, thus adjured, placed the refractory flat candle on the bottom stair, and vanished into the front parlour with his message. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- This part of the Course was usually lightened by several single combats between Biddy and refractory students. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- Mr Venus took the lead, towing Mr Wegg, in order that his refractory leg might be promptly extricated from any pitfalls it should dig for itself. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
Inputed by Leslie