Library / English Dictionary

REFORM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A change for the better as a result of correcting abuses

Example:

justice was for sale before the reform of the law courts

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("reform" is a kind of...):

improvement (the act of improving something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "reform"):

land reform (a redistribution of agricultural land (especially by government action))

moralisation; moralization (the act of making moral (or more moral))

housecleaning ((figurative) the act of reforming by the removal of unwanted personnel or practices or conditions)

Derivation:

reform (make changes for improvement in order to remove abuse and injustices)

reform (improve by alteration or correction of errors or defects and put into a better condition)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Self-improvement in behavior or morals by abandoning some vice

Example:

the family rejoiced in the drunkard's reform

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("reform" is a kind of...):

self-improvement; self-reformation (the act of improving yourself)

Derivation:

reform (change for the better)

reform (bring, lead, or force to abandon a wrong or evil course of life, conduct, and adopt a right one)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A campaign aimed to correct abuses or malpractices

Example:

the reforms he proposed were too radical for the politicians

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("reform" is a kind of...):

campaign; cause; crusade; drive; effort; movement (a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end)

Derivation:

reform (make changes for improvement in order to remove abuse and injustices)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Change for the better

Example:

the habitual cheater finally saw the light

Synonyms:

reform; see the light; straighten out

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "reform" is one way to...):

ameliorate; better; improve; meliorate (get better)

Verb group:

reclaim; rectify; reform; regenerate (bring, lead, or force to abandon a wrong or evil course of life, conduct, and adopt a right one)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

reform (self-improvement in behavior or morals by abandoning some vice)

reformation (rescuing from error and returning to a rightful course)

reformatory (tending to reform)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make changes for improvement in order to remove abuse and injustices

Example:

reform a political system

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "reform" is one way to...):

ameliorate; amend; better; improve; meliorate (to make better)

Verb group:

reform (improve by alteration or correction of errors or defects and put into a better condition)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

reformist; reformer (a disputant who advocates reform)

reformative (tending to reform)

reformation (rescuing from error and returning to a rightful course)

reform (a campaign aimed to correct abuses or malpractices)

reform (a change for the better as a result of correcting abuses)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Improve by alteration or correction of errors or defects and put into a better condition

Example:

reform the health system in this country

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "reform" is one way to...):

ameliorate; amend; better; improve; meliorate (to make better)

Verb group:

reform (make changes for improvement in order to remove abuse and injustices)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

reform (a change for the better as a result of correcting abuses)

reformation (improvement (or an intended improvement) in the existing form or condition of institutions or practices etc.; intended to make a striking change for the better in social or political or religious affairs)

reformist (a disputant who advocates reform)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Break up the molecules of

Example:

reform oil

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "reform" is one way to...):

change integrity (change in physical make-up)

Domain category:

chemical science; chemistry (the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

reformer (an apparatus that reforms the molecular structure of hydrocarbons to produce richer fuel)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Produce by cracking

Example:

reform gas

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "reform" is one way to...):

create from raw material; create from raw stuff (make from scratch)

Domain category:

chemical science; chemistry (the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 6

Meaning:

Bring, lead, or force to abandon a wrong or evil course of life, conduct, and adopt a right one

Example:

reform your conduct

Synonyms:

reclaim; rectify; reform; regenerate

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "reform" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Verb group:

reform; see the light; straighten out (change for the better)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "reform"):

moralise; moralize (improve the morals of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

reform (self-improvement in behavior or morals by abandoning some vice)

reformation (rescuing from error and returning to a rightful course)

reformative; reformatory (tending to reform)

reformist (a disputant who advocates reform)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Why don't he, in such a case, sell his horses, let his house, turn off his servants, and make a thorough reform at once?

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

He must make a personal reform in all things, even to tooth-washing and neck-gear, though a starched collar affected him as a renunciation of freedom.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

It was a sort of laugh, as she answered, 'A pretty good lecture, upon my word. Was it part of your last sermon? At this rate you will soon reform everybody at Mansfield and Thornton Lacey; and when I hear of you next, it may be as a celebrated preacher in some great society of Methodists, or as a missionary into foreign parts.'

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

But the reform went deeper than mere outward appearance.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Pity, too, was aroused, and innocent, idealistic thoughts of reform.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)