reforming

[ri-fawr-ming] /rɪˌfɔr mɪŋ/
noun
1.
Chemistry. the process of cracking low-octane petroleum fractions in order to increase the octane number.
Origin
1920-25; reform + -ing1
Related forms
antireforming, adjective, noun
unreforming, adjective

re-form

[ree-fawrm] /riˈfɔrm/
verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
1.
to form again.
Origin
1300-50; Middle English; orig. identical with reform
Related forms
re-formation, noun
re-former, noun
Can be confused
re-form, reform.

reform

[ri-fawrm] /rɪˈfɔrm/
noun
1.
the improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt, unsatisfactory, etc.:
social reform; spelling reform.
2.
an instance of this.
3.
the amendment of conduct, belief, etc.
verb (used with object)
4.
to change to a better state, form, etc.; improve by alteration, substitution, abolition, etc.
5.
to cause (a person) to abandon wrong or evil ways of life or conduct.
6.
to put an end to (abuses, disorders, etc.).
7.
Chemistry. to subject to the process of reforming, as in refining petroleum.
verb (used without object)
8.
to abandon evil conduct or error:
The drunkard promised to reform.
adjective
9.
(initial capital letter) of, pertaining to, or characteristic of Reform Jews or Reform Judaism:
a Reform rabbi.
Origin
1300-50; (v.) Middle English reformen < Middle French reformer, Old French < Latin refōrmāre (see re-, form); (noun) partly derivative of the v., partly < French réforme
Related forms
reformable, adjective
reformability, reformableness, noun
reformative, adjective
reformatively, adverb
reformativeness, noun
reformingly, adverb
antireform, adjective
misreform, verb
prereform, adjective
proreform, adjective
self-reform, noun
superreform, noun, verb (used with object)
unreformable, adjective
unreformative, adjective
Can be confused
re-form, reform.
Synonyms
1. correction, reformation, betterment, amelioration. 4. better, rectify, correct, amend, emend, ameliorate, repair, restore.
Antonyms
1. deterioration.
Examples from the web for reforming
  • Groups are organizing all over the country to speak their minds on reforming pot laws.
  • But such reforming takes patience and careful hand-holding.
  • The bait ball explodes as the dolphins break through, quickly reforming behind them.
  • In this case, the network is constantly reforming as the nodes move in and out of contact with each other.
  • The big risk of reforming the system is that it weakens the state's economic hold over its citizens.
  • He founded seven monasteries, and was indefatigable in reforming the manners of his flock.
  • We need a return, as a nation, to an informed and rational debate about the choices facing us in reforming health care.
  • Nothing proves the unlikelihood of reforming the faculty unions more than their refusal to address the contingent faculty crisis.
  • He said the nation's education problems need to be fixed by spending more money and by reforming the system.
  • Some speakers proposed ideas for reforming the admissions process that were far-fetched, yet intriguing.
British Dictionary definitions for reforming

reform

/rɪˈfɔːm/
verb
1.
(transitive) to improve (an existing institution, law, practice, etc) by alteration or correction of abuses
2.
to give up or cause to give up a reprehensible habit or immoral way of life
3.
(chem) to change the molecular structure of (a hydrocarbon) to make it suitable for use as petrol by heat, pressure, and the action of catalysts
noun
4.
an improvement or change for the better, esp as a result of correction of legal or political abuses or malpractices
5.
a principle, campaign, or measure aimed at achieving such change
6.
improvement of morals or behaviour, esp by giving up some vice
Derived Forms
reformable, adjective
reformative, adjective
reformer, noun
Word Origin
C14: via Old French from Latin reformāre to form again

re-form

/riːˈfɔːm/
verb
1.
to form anew
Derived Forms
re-formation, noun
Word Origin and History for reforming

reform

v.

c.1300, "to convert into another and better form," from Old French reformer "rebuild, reconstruct, recreate" (12c.), from Latin reformare "to form again, change, transform, alter," from re- "again" (see re-) + formare "to form" (see form (n.)). Intransitive sense from 1580s.

Meaning "to bring (a person) away from an evil course of life" is recorded from early 15c.; of governments, institutions, etc., from early 15c. Related: Reformed; reforming. Reformed churches (1580s) usually are Calvinist as opposed to Lutheran. Reformed Judaism (1843) is a movement initiated in Germany by Moses Mendelssohn (1729-1786). Reform school is attested from 1859.

n.

"any proceeding which brings back a better order of things," 1660s, from reform (v.) and in some uses from French réforme. As a branch of Judaism from 1843.

re-form

v.

"form again," mid-14c., from re- + form (v.). Related: Re-formed; re-forming; re-formation.

Encyclopedia Article for reforming

in chemistry, processing technique by which the molecular structure of a hydrocarbon is rearranged to alter its properties. The process is frequently applied to low-quality gasoline stocks to improve their combustion characteristics. Thermal reforming alters the properties of low-grade naphthas by converting the molecules into those of higher octane number by exposing the materials to high temperatures and pressures. Catalytic reforming uses a catalyst, usually platinum, to produce a similar result. Mixed with hydrogen, naphtha is heated and passed over pellets of catalyst in a series of reactors, under high pressure, producing high-octane gasoline.

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