refinery
UK: rɪˈfaɪnəri | US: rɪˈfaɪnəri
n. an industrial facility where raw materials (e.g., oil, sugar, metals) are purified or processed into usable products.
The word "refinery" emerged in the 17th century, combining "refine" (itself rooted in Latin finis, "end" or "boundary," implying perfection) with the suffix "-ery." It originally described places where impure substances (like sugar or metals) were processed to remove impurities. The term later expanded to include oil refineries during the Industrial Revolution, reflecting technological advancements in purification processes.
The oil refinery converts crude oil into gasoline and other fuels.
Modern sugar refineries use advanced machinery to produce white sugar.
The city’s air quality suffered due to emissions from the nearby refinery.
She visited a gold refinery to learn about metal purification.
The government regulated the refinery’s waste disposal practices.