refinery

[ ri-fahy-nuh-ree ]

noun

, plural re·fin·er·ies.

1. an establishment for refining something, as metal, sugar, or petroleum.

refinery

/ rɪˈfaɪnərɪ /

noun

1. a factory for the purification of some crude material, such as ore, sugar, oil, etc

refinery

/ rĭ-fī′nə-rē /

1. An industrial plant that uses mechanical and chemical means to purify a substance, such as petroleum or sugar, or to convert it to a form that is more useful.

Word History and Origins

Origin of refinery¹

First recorded in 1720–30; refine + -ery

Example Sentences

The Chapter 11 process provides Limetree with the clearest path to maximize the value of our estate for our stakeholders while safely preparing the refinery for an extended shutdown.

From Washington Post

Many are choosing to hone their business in on the most efficient, high-yielding assets—rigs, drilling rights, refineries, pipelines, and the like—and sell off whatever’s particularly carbon-intense.

From Quartz

One in Philadelphia led to the permanent closure in 2019 of what had been the largest oil refinery on the East Coast.

From Washington Post

The refinery, which used to operate under the name Hovensa before shutting down nearly a decade ago and changing ownership, is a major employer and source of revenue for the territory.

From Washington Post

In the summer of 1941 the Bomber Mafia identified strategic “choke points” — power plants, oil refineries, aircraft factories — to be attacked should the United States enter the war.

From Washington Post

Refinery management had normalized the occurrences of hazardous conditions.

From The Daily Beast

The condensate is then supposed to be routed into the pipeline system that delivers the crude to the nearby refinery.

From The Daily Beast

We fought in Mosul 10 days,” Jasim said, “then they sent us to Bayji to help the army liberate the refinery.

From The Daily Beast

By Tuesday night, ISIS was in control of Bayji, a major oil refinery city that stood north between Tikrit and Mosul.

From The Daily Beast

This unusually severe judgment was the first criminal conviction of a refinery operation under the Clean Air Act.

From The Daily Beast

Many dyers' furnaces, a little silver refinery, and perhaps a bakery have also been noticed.

From Project Gutenberg

The lead remaining, which is extremely rich in silver, is then taken to the refinery, and treated in the usual manner.

From Project Gutenberg

On the edge of the town is located the refinery of the company, connected by pipe lines with the wells, a few miles distant.

From Project Gutenberg

But this mode of refinery, consisting in the use of a reverberatory furnace alone, did not produce altogether the desired result.

From Project Gutenberg

This pot has a lining of refinery slag, which is melted, as the apparatus revolves, to get it to adhere to the sides.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• refiner