refuse
(redirected from refused)Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Idioms, Encyclopedia.
re·fuse 1
(rĭ-fyo͞oz′)v. re·fused, re·fus·ing, re·fus·es
v.tr.
1.
a. To indicate unwillingness to do, accept, give, or allow: She was refused admittance. He refused treatment.
b. To indicate unwillingness (to do something): refused to leave.
2. To decline to jump (an obstacle). Used of a horse.
v.intr.
To decline to do, accept, give, or allow something.
[Middle English refusen, from Old French refuser, from Vulgar Latin *refūsāre, probably blend of Latin recūsāre, to refuse; see recuse, and Latin refūtāre, refute; see refute.]
re·fus′er n.
Synonyms: refuse1, decline, reject, spurn, rebuff
These verbs mean to be unwilling to accept, consider, or receive someone or something. Refuse implies determination and often brusqueness: "The commander ... refused to discuss questions of right" (George Bancroft)."I'll make him an offer he can't refuse" (Mario Puzo).
To decline is to refuse politely: "I declined election to the National Institute of Arts and Letters ... and now I must decline the Pulitzer Prize" (Sinclair Lewis).
Reject suggests the discarding of someone or something as defective or useless; it implies categoric refusal: "He again offered himself for enlistment and was again rejected" (Arthur S.M. Hutchinson).
To spurn is to reject scornfully or contemptuously: "The more she spurns my love, / The more it grows" (Shakespeare).
Rebuff pertains to blunt or disdainful rejection: "He had ... gone too far in his advances, and had been rebuffed" (Robert Louis Stevenson).
These verbs mean to be unwilling to accept, consider, or receive someone or something. Refuse implies determination and often brusqueness: "The commander ... refused to discuss questions of right" (George Bancroft)."I'll make him an offer he can't refuse" (Mario Puzo).
To decline is to refuse politely: "I declined election to the National Institute of Arts and Letters ... and now I must decline the Pulitzer Prize" (Sinclair Lewis).
Reject suggests the discarding of someone or something as defective or useless; it implies categoric refusal: "He again offered himself for enlistment and was again rejected" (Arthur S.M. Hutchinson).
To spurn is to reject scornfully or contemptuously: "The more she spurns my love, / The more it grows" (Shakespeare).
Rebuff pertains to blunt or disdainful rejection: "He had ... gone too far in his advances, and had been rebuffed" (Robert Louis Stevenson).
ref·use 2
(rĕf′yo͞os)n.
Items or material discarded or rejected as useless or worthless; trash or rubbish.
[Middle English, from Old French refus, rejection, refuse, from refuser, to refuse; see refuse1.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
refuse
(rɪˈfjuːz)vb
1. (tr) to decline to accept (something offered): to refuse a present; to refuse promotion.
2. to decline to give or grant (something) to (a person, organization, etc)
3. (when tr, takes an infinitive) to express determination not (to do something); decline: he refuses to talk about it.
4. (Horse Training, Riding & Manège) (of a horse) to be unwilling to take (a jump), as by swerving or stopping
5. (tr) (of a woman) to declare one's unwillingness to accept (a suitor) as a husband
[C14: from Old French refuser, from Latin refundere to pour back; see refund]
reˈfusable adj
reˈfuser n
refuse
(ˈrɛfjuːs)n
a. anything thrown away; waste; rubbish
b. (as modifier): a refuse collection.
[C15: from Old French refuser to refuse1]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
re•fuse1
(rɪˈfyuz)v. -fused, -fus•ing. v.t.
1. to decline to accept (something offered).
2. to decline to give; deny (a request, demand, etc.).
3. to express a determination not to (do something): to refuse to discuss an issue.
4. to decline to submit to.
5. to decline to accept (a suitor) in marriage.
6. (of a horse) to decline to leap over (a barrier).
7. Obs. to renounce.
v.i. 8. to decline acceptance, consent, or compliance.
[1300–50; Middle English < Middle French refuser, Old French < Vulgar Latin *refūsāre, perhaps b. Latin recūsāre to demur (see recusant) and refūtāre to refute]
re•fus′a•ble, adj.
re•fus′er, n.
syn: refuse, reject, spurn, decline imply nonacceptance of something. refuse is direct and emphatic in expressing a determination not to accept what is offered or proposed: to refuse an offer of help. reject is even more forceful and definite: to reject an author's manuscript. To spurn is to reject with scorn: to spurn a bribe. decline is a milder and more courteous term: to decline an invitation.
ref•use2
(ˈrɛf yus)n.
1. something that is discarded as worthless or useless; rubbish; trash; garbage.
adj. 2. rejected as worthless; discarded.
[1325–75; Middle English < Middle French; Old French refus denial, rejection]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
refuse
Refuse can be a verb or a noun. When it is a verb, it is pronounced (/rɪfjuːz/). When it is a noun, it is pronounced (/refjuːs/).
1. used as a verb
If you refuse to do something, you deliberately do not do it, or you say firmly that you will not do it.
He refused to accept their advice.
Three employees were dismissed for refusing to join a union.
2. 'reject'
If you do not agree with an idea or belief, you do not say that you 'refuse' it. You say that you reject it.
Some people reject the idea of a mixed economy.
It was hard for me to reject my family's religious beliefs.
3. used as a noun
Refuse is a noun used to refer to things that you throw away.
...a dump for refuse.
This department is also responsible for refuse collection.
Several other words are used to refer to things that are thrown away.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
refuse
Past participle: refused
Gerund: refusing
| Imperative |
|---|
| refuse |
| refuse |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  refuse - food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)waste, waste material, waste matter, waste product - any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted; "they collect the waste once a week"; "much of the waste material is carried off in the sewers" |
| Verb | 1. | refuse - show unwillingness towards; "he declined to join the group on a hike" freeze off, spurn, pooh-pooh, disdain, scorn, turn down, reject - reject with contempt; "She spurned his advances" contract out - refuse to pay a levy to a union for political use regret - decline formally or politely; "I regret I can't come to the party" repudiate - refuse to recognize or pay; "repudiate a debt" disobey - refuse to go along with; refuse to follow; be disobedient; "He disobeyed his supervisor and was fired" |
| 2. |  refuse - refuse to accept; "He refused my offer of hospitality"freeze off, spurn, pooh-pooh, disdain, scorn, turn down, reject - reject with contempt; "She spurned his advances" bounce - refuse to accept and send back; "bounce a check" | |
| 3. | refuse - elude, especially in a baffling way; "This behavior defies explanation" beggar - be beyond the resources of; "This beggars description!" | |
| 4. | refuse - refuse to let have; "She denies me every pleasure"; "he denies her her weekly allowance" keep, hold on - retain possession of; "Can I keep my old stuffed animals?"; "She kept her maiden name after she married" | |
| 5. | refuse - resist immunologically the introduction of some foreign tissue or organ; "His body rejected the liver of the donor" | |
| 6. |  refuse - refuse entrance or membership; "They turned away hundreds of fans"; "Black people were often rejected by country clubs" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
refuse
1verb
refuse
2noun rubbish, waste, sweepings, junk (informal), litter, garbage, trash, sediment, scum, dross, dregs, leavings, dreck (slang, chiefly U.S.), offscourings, lees a weekly collection of refuse
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
refuse
verb1. To be unwilling to accept, consider, or receive:
Slang: nix.
Idiom: turn thumbs down on.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
odmítnoutodpadkysmetínepovolitnepřijmout
affaldafslåforbydenægteskrald
jätekieltääkieltäytyä
odbitiotpad
megtagadvisszautasít
hafnaneitaneita umrusl
ごみ拒否する
거절하다쓰레기
recusare
atkritumiatliekasatteiktatteiktiesnedot piekrišanu
nepovoliťneprijať
odklonitiodpadkizavrniti
vägrasopor
ขยะปฏิเสธ
ráctừ chối
refuse
1 [rɪˈfjuːz]A. VT
1. (= decline) [+ offer, chance] → rechazar, rehusar; [+ applicant] → rechazar
it was an offer he couldn't refuse → era una oferta que no podía rechazar or rehusar
the patient has the right to refuse treatment → el paciente tiene derecho a negarse a someterse a tratamiento
he was devastated when she refused him → estaba desolado cuando ella lo rechazó
she refused their invitation to stay to dinner → rechazó or no aceptó su invitación para quedarse a cenar
he never refuses a drink → nunca dice que no a una copa
to refuse to do sth [person] → negarse a hacer algo
he refused to comment after the trial → se negó a or rehusó hacer comentarios después del juicio
my legs refused to function → mis piernas se negaban a funcionar
it was an offer he couldn't refuse → era una oferta que no podía rechazar or rehusar
the patient has the right to refuse treatment → el paciente tiene derecho a negarse a someterse a tratamiento
he was devastated when she refused him → estaba desolado cuando ella lo rechazó
she refused their invitation to stay to dinner → rechazó or no aceptó su invitación para quedarse a cenar
he never refuses a drink → nunca dice que no a una copa
to refuse to do sth [person] → negarse a hacer algo
he refused to comment after the trial → se negó a or rehusó hacer comentarios después del juicio
my legs refused to function → mis piernas se negaban a funcionar
2. (= not grant) [+ request, permission] (gen) → negar; (officially) → denegar
the police refused permission for the march → la policía denegó el permiso or les negó el permiso para hacer la marcha
to refuse sb sth (gen) → negar algo a algn; (officially) → denegar algo a algn
they were refused permission to leave → les negaron autorización para salir
I was refused entry to Malawi → me denegaron la entrada a Malaui
they can refuse her nothing → no le pueden negar nada
the police refused permission for the march → la policía denegó el permiso or les negó el permiso para hacer la marcha
to refuse sb sth (gen) → negar algo a algn; (officially) → denegar algo a algn
they were refused permission to leave → les negaron autorización para salir
I was refused entry to Malawi → me denegaron la entrada a Malaui
they can refuse her nothing → no le pueden negar nada
B. VI
2. [horse] → plantarse
refuse
2 [ˈrefjuːs]A. N
1. (= rubbish) → basura f, desperdicios mpl
garden refuse → desperdicios mpl del jardín
household refuse → basura f doméstica, residuos mpl domésticos
garden refuse → desperdicios mpl del jardín
household refuse → basura f doméstica, residuos mpl domésticos
B. CPD refuse bin N → cubo m or (LAm) bote m or tarro m de la basura
refuse chute N → rampa f de desperdicios, rampa f de la basura
refuse collection N → recogida f de basura
refuse collector N → basurero m
refuse disposal N → eliminación f de basuras
refuse disposal unit N → triturador m de basura
refuse dump N = refuse tip refuse lorry N → camión m de la basura
refuse tip N → vertedero m, basural m (LAm)
refuse chute N → rampa f de desperdicios, rampa f de la basura
refuse collection N → recogida f de basura
refuse collector N → basurero m
refuse disposal N → eliminación f de basuras
refuse disposal unit N → triturador m de basura
refuse dump N = refuse tip refuse lorry N → camión m de la basura
refuse tip N → vertedero m, basural m (LAm)
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
refuse
[rɪˈfjuːz] vt [+ offer, gift, payment] → refuser
to refuse treatment [patient] → refuser le traitement
to refuse permission for sth → refuser d'autoriser qch
to refuse sb sth → refuser qch à qn
to refuse treatment [patient] → refuser le traitement
to refuse permission for sth → refuser d'autoriser qch
to refuse sb sth → refuser qch à qn
[ˈrɛfjuːs] n (= rubbish) → ordures fplrefuse bin [ˈrɛfjuːsbɪn] n → poubelle frefuse chute [ˈrɛfjuːsʃuːt] n (in building) → vide-ordures m invrefuse collection [ˈrɛfjuːskəlɛkʃən] n → ramassage m des orduresrefuse collector [ˈrɛfjuːskəlɛktər] n → éboueur/euse m/frefuse disposal [ˌrɛfjuːsdɪˈspəʊzəl] n → traitement m des orduresrefuse dump [ˈrɛfjuːsdʌmp] n → décharge f (publique)refuse lorry [ˈrɛfjuːslɒri] (British) refuse truck [ˈrɛfjuːstrʌk] (US) n → benne f à ordures
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
refuse
in cpds → Müll-;refuse bin
n → Mülleimer m
refuse chute
n → Müllschlucker m
refuse collection
n → Müllabfuhr f
refuse collector
n → Müllwerker(in) m(f), → Müllmann m (inf)
refuse destructor
n → Müllvernichtungsanlage f
refuse disposal
n → Müllbeseitigung f
refuse disposal service
n → Müllabfuhr f
refuse disposal unit
n → Müllzerkleinerer m
refuse dump
n → Müllabladeplatz m
refuse lorry
n → Müllwagen m
refuse
1vt candidate, proposal, offer → ablehnen; invitation also → absagen; (stronger) → abweisen, zurückweisen; visa, permit, permission, payment → verweigern; to refuse to do something → sich weigern, etw zu tun, etw nicht tun wollen; I refuse to believe it → ich weigere mich, das zu glauben, ich glaube das einfach nicht; I refuse to be blackmailed → ich lasse mich nicht erpressen; to be refused something → etw nicht bekommen; he was refused entry into Germany → ihm wurde die Einreise nach Deutschland verweigert; he was refused a visa → ihm wurde das Visum verweigert; they were refused permission (to leave) → es wurde ihnen nicht gestattet (wegzugehen); he refused food → er verweigerte die Nahrungsaufnahme; he/his request was refused → er/seine Bitte wurde abgelehnt; she refused him → sie wies ihn ab or zurück; the horse refused the fence → das Pferd hat am Hindernis verweigert
refuse
2Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
refuse
1 [rɪˈfjuːz]1. vt (all senses) → rifiutare
to refuse sb sth → rifiutare qc a qn
to refuse to do sth → rifiutare or rifiutarsi di fare qc
to refuse sb sth → rifiutare qc a qn
to refuse to do sth → rifiutare or rifiutarsi di fare qc
2. vi → rifiutarsi; (horse) → rifiutare (l'ostacolo)
refuse
2 [ˈrɛfjuːs] n → rifiuti mplgarden refuse → rifiuti del giardino
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
refuse1
(rəˈfjuːz) verb1. not to do what one has been asked, told or is expected to do. He refused to help me; She refused to believe what I said; When I asked him to leave, he refused.
2. not to accept. He refused my offer of help; They refused our invitation; She refused the money.
3. not to give (permission etc). I was refused admittance to the meeting.
reˈfusal nounI was surprised at his refusal to help me; When we sent out the wedding invitations, we had several refusals.
refuse2
(ˈrefjuːs) noun rubbish; waste material from eg a kitchen.
refuse collector, refuse collection vehicle a person who collects, a vehicle for collecting, rubbish.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
refuse
→ حُثَالَة, يَرْفُضُ odmítnout, odpadky affald, afslå Abfall, ablehnen απορρίμματα, αρνούμαι rechazar, rechazo jäte, kieltäytyä ordures, refuser odbiti, otpad rifiutare, rifiuto ごみ, 拒否する 거절하다, 쓰레기 afval, weigeren avfall, nekte odmówić, odpady lixo, recusar отказывать, отходы sopor, vägra ขยะ, ปฏิเสธ reddetme, reddetmek rác, từ chối 废物, 拒绝Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
refuse
n. desecho, basura; desperdicios;
v. rehusar, rechazar, denegar;
___ the hospital food → ___ la comida del hospital;
___ to take the medication → rehusar tomar la medicina.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
refuse
vt rechazar; to refuse a transfusion..rechazar una transfusiónEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.