Definition of "refuse"

refuse¹

/ˈɹɛfjuːs/

adjective
comparative more refuse, superlative most refuse
1. Discarded, rejected.
noun
uncountable
1. Collectively, items or material that have been discarded; rubbish, garbage.

refuse²

/ɹɪˈfjuːz/

verb
third-person singular simple present refuses, present participle refusing, simple past and past participle refused
1. (transitive) To decline (a request or demand).
2. (intransitive) To decline a request or demand, forbear; to withhold permission.
  Quotations
  If ye refuse […] ye shall be devoured with the sword.
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Isaiah 1:20
  City were outclassed thereafter and Roberto Mancini said that substitute Carlos Tevez refused to play.
  2011 September 27, Alistair Magowan, “Bayern Munich 2 - 0 Man City”, in BBC Sport‎
  Trump has explicitly refused to deal with the European Commission, seeking instead to conduct bilateral relations with individual EU countries.
  2018, Michael Cottakis – LSE, “Colliding worlds: Donald Trump and the European Union”, in LSE's blog‎
  My thoughts are disturbed by a man and pooch trying to get off the front of the train. Despite hitting the door button, they refused to open.
  2022 November 2, Paul Bigland, “New trains, old trains, and splendid scenery”, in RAIL, number 969, page 58
3. (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.
4. (obsolete, transitive) To disown.
  Quotations
  Refuse thy name.
  c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene ii]
noun
1. (obsolete) refusal
  Quotations
  This ſpoken, readie with a proud refuſe [...]
  1600, [Torquato Tasso], “The Twelfth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne”, in Edward Fairefax [i.e., Edward Fairfax], transl., Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem. […], London: […] Ar[nold] Hatfield, for I[saac] Iaggard and M[atthew] Lownes, stanza 13, page 215

refuse³

/ɹiːˈfjuːz/

verb
third-person singular simple present refuses, present participle refusing, simple past and past participle refused
1. To melt again.

Definition of "refuse"

refuse1

adjective

noun

refuse2

verb

Quotations

Quotations

noun

Quotations

refuse3

verb

refuse¹

refuse²

refuse³