Skip to main content

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.
💡 Concept

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

Rarefy to purify, clarify with care!
🎵 Rhyme

Rarefy to purify, clarify with care!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈrɛrəˌfaɪ/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈreəɾəˌfaɪ/

🌳Etymology

Rootrare
Suffix--fy

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

clarify
terrify
purify
glorify

🔗Collocations

rarefy the air
rarefied atmosphere
rarefy gas
intellectually rarefied
rarefied environment

📝Examples

“The mountain climber's breathing became difficult as the air began to rarefy at 8,000 meters.”

😄 Fun example

“The professor's rarefied vocabulary made even simple concepts sound impossibly complex.”

😄 Fun example

“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

Want to master 27,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.