- ref|use
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–v.t.1. to say no to; decline to accept; reject: »
He refuses the offer. She refused him when he asked her to marry him.
3. to say one will not do, give, or allow something; decline (to do something): »to refuse to discuss a question. He refuses to obey.
4. to decline to jump over: »The black horse refused the fence.
5. to hold or move (troops) back from the regular alignment, when about to meet the enemy.–v.i.to say no; decline to accept or consent: »She is free to refuse.
–re|fus´er, noun.Synonym Study transitive verb. 1 Refuse, decline, reject mean not to accept something offered. Refuse implies a direct and sometimes an ungracious denial: »He flatly refused to go with me after our quarrel.
Decline is more polite, implying reluctant rather than direct denial: »He declined my invitation because of a previous appointment.
Reject is more emphatic than refuse, implying a very positive denial: »He rejected my friendly advice upon further consideration.
ref|use2 «REHF yoos», noun, adjective,–n.1. useless stuff; waste; rubbish: »The garbagemen took away all refuse from the streets.
SYNONYM(S): trash.2. the scum, dregs, or outcast portions of something.–adj.rejected as worthless or of little value; useless: »Every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly (I Samuel 15:9).
Useful english dictionary. 2012.