refuse

Pronunciation

• enPR: rĕfʹyo͞os, IPA^(key): /ˈɹɛfjuːs/

Adjective

refuse (comparative more refuse, superlative most refuse)

1. Discarded, rejected.

Noun

refuse (uncountable)

1. Collectively, items or material that have been discarded; rubbish, garbage.

Pronunciation

• enPR: rĭfyo͞ozʹ, IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈfjuːz/

• Audio (UK)

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• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -uːz

Verb

refuse (third-person singular simple present refuses, present participle refusing, simple past and past participle refused)

1. (transitive) To decline (a request or demand).

   My request for a pay rise was refused.

2. (intransitive) To decline a request or demand, forbear; to withhold permission.

   I refuse to listen to this nonsense any more.

   I asked the star if I could have her autograph, but she refused.

   • Bible, Isa. i. 20

     If ye refuse […] ye shall be devoured with the sword.

   • 2011 September 27, Alistair Magowan, “Bayern Munich 2 - 0 Man City”, in BBC Sport‎:

     City were outclassed thereafter and Roberto Mancini said that substitute Carlos Tevez refused to play.

   • 2018, Michael Cottakis – LSE, “Colliding worlds: Donald Trump and the European Union”, in LSE's blog‎:

     Trump has explicitly refused to deal with the European Commission, seeking instead to conduct bilateral relations with individual EU countries.

1. (military) To throw back, or cause to keep back (as the centre, a wing, or a flank), out of the regular alignment when troops are about to engage the enemy.

   to refuse the right wing while the left wing attacks

2. (obsolete, transitive) To disown.
   • Shakespeare

     Refuse thy name.

Noun

refuse

1. (obsolete) refusal

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Fairfax to this entry?)