adj.
- Obstinately resistant to authority or control. See synonyms at unruly.
- Difficult to melt or work; resistant to heat: a refractory material such as silica.
- Resistant to treatment: a refractory case of acne.
- One that is refractory.
- Material that has a high melting point.
[Alteration (influenced by adjectives in -ORY) of obsolete refractary, from Latin refrāctārius, from refrāctus, past participle of refringere, to break up. See refract.]
refractorily re·frac'to·ri·ly adv.refractoriness re·frac'to·ri·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
