rarefy — to make or become thin, less dense, or less concentrated
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to make or become thin, less dense, or less concentrated
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈrɛrəˌfaɪ/
Example Sentences
- The mountain climber's breathing became difficult as the air began to rarefy at 8,000 meters.
- The professor's rarefied vocabulary made even simple concepts sound impossibly complex.
- She lived in the rarefied world of high fashion, where a simple handbag costs more than most cars.
rarefy
VERB[/ˈrɛrəˌfaɪ/]
to make or become thin, less dense, or less concentrated

The climbers gasped as the mountain air began to rarefy near the summit.

Rarefy to purify, clarify with care!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'rarефacere', combining 'rarus' (thin, sparse) and 'facere' (to make). The word entered English through French 'rarefier' in the 17th century.
Breakdown
rare- (thin, sparse, from Latin rarus) + -fy (to make, from Latin facere) = rarefy (to make thin or less dense)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The mountain climber's breathing became difficult as the air began to rarefy at 8,000 meters.”
“The professor's rarefied vocabulary made even simple concepts sound impossibly complex.”
“She lived in the rarefied world of high fashion, where a simple handbag costs more than most cars.”
“Heat causes gases to expand and rarefy.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
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