reform
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Related to reforms: REFORMA
re·form
(rĭ-fôrm′)v. re·formed, re·form·ing, re·forms
v.tr.
1. To improve by alteration, correction of error, or removal of defects; put into a better form or condition: reform the tax code.
2.
a. To abolish abuse or malpractice in: reform the government.
b. To put an end to (an abuse or wrong).
3. To induce or persuade (a person) to give up harmful or immoral practices; cause to adopt a better way of life.
4. Chemistry To subject (hydrocarbons) to cracking.
v.intr.
To change for the better.
n.
1. Action to improve or correct what is wrong or defective in something: health care reform.
2. An instance of this; an improvement: reforms in education.
adj.
1. Relating to or favoring reform: a reform candidate for mayor.
2. Reform Of or relating to Reform Judaism.
[Middle English reformen, from Old French reformer, from Latin refōrmāre : re-, re- + fōrmāre, to shape (from fōrma, form).]
re·form′a·bil′i·ty n.
re·form′a·ble adj.
re·form′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
reform
(rɪˈfɔːm)vb
1. (tr) 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. (Chemistry) 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
n
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
[C14: via Old French from Latin reformāre to form again]
reˈformable adj
reˈformative adj
reˈformer n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
re-form
(riˈfɔrm)v.t., v.i.
to form again.
re•form
(rɪˈfɔrm)n.
1. the improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt, unsatisfactory, etc.: social reform.
2. an instance of this.
3. the amendment of conduct, belief, etc.
v.t. 4. to change to a better state, form, etc.
5. to cause (a person) to abandon wrong or evil ways of life or conduct.
6. to put an end to (abuses, evils, etc.).
7. to subject (petroleum fractions) to a chemical process, as catalytic cracking, that increases the octane content.
v.i. 8. to abandon evil conduct or error.
adj. 9. (cap.) conforming to or characteristic of Reform Judaism.
[1300–50; (v.) Middle English < Middle French reformer, Old French < Latin refōrmāre]
re•form′a•ble, adj.
re•form′a•tive, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
reform
Past participle: reformed
Gerund: reforming
| Imperative |
|---|
| reform |
| reform |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  reform - a change for the better as a result of correcting abuses; "justice was for sale before the reform of the law courts"improvement - the act of improving something; "their improvements increased the value of the property" land reform - a redistribution of agricultural land (especially by government action) moralisation, moralization - the act of making moral (or more moral); "for years she worked toward the moralization of English literature" housecleaning - (figurative) the act of reforming by the removal of unwanted personnel or practices or conditions; "more housecleaning is in store at other accounting firms"; "many employees were discharged in a general housecleaning by the new owners" |
| 2. | reform - a campaign aimed to correct abuses or malpractices; "the reforms he proposed were too radical for the politicians" crusade, campaign, cause, drive, effort, movement - a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end; "he supported populist campaigns"; "they worked in the cause of world peace"; "the team was ready for a drive toward the pennant"; "the movement to end slavery"; "contributed to the war effort" | |
| 3. | reform - self-improvement in behavior or morals by abandoning some vice; "the family rejoiced in the drunkard's reform" self-improvement, self-reformation - the act of improving yourself | |
| Verb | 1. | reform - make changes for improvement in order to remove abuse and injustices; "reform a political system" ameliorate, improve, meliorate, amend, better - to make better; "The editor improved the manuscript with his changes" reform - improve by alteration or correction of errors or defects and put into a better condition; "reform the health system in this country" |
| 2. | reform - bring, lead, or force to abandon a wrong or evil course of life, conduct, and adopt a right one; "The Church reformed me"; "reform your conduct" alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue" see the light, straighten out, reform - change for the better; "The lazy student promised to reform"; "the habitual cheater finally saw the light" | |
| 3. | reform - produce by cracking; "reform gas" chemical science, chemistry - the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions create from raw material, create from raw stuff - make from scratch | |
| 4. | reform - break up the molecules of; "reform oil" chemical science, chemistry - the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions change integrity - change in physical make-up | |
| 5. | reform - improve by alteration or correction of errors or defects and put into a better condition; "reform the health system in this country" ameliorate, improve, meliorate, amend, better - to make better; "The editor improved the manuscript with his changes" reform - make changes for improvement in order to remove abuse and injustices; "reform a political system" | |
| 6. | reform - change for the better; "The lazy student promised to reform"; "the habitual cheater finally saw the light" reform, regenerate, reclaim, rectify - bring, lead, or force to abandon a wrong or evil course of life, conduct, and adopt a right one; "The Church reformed me"; "reform your conduct" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
reform
noun
1. improvement, amendment, correction, rehabilitation, renovation, betterment, rectification, amelioration a programme of economic reform
verb
1. improve, better, correct, restore, repair, rebuild, amend, reclaim, mend, renovate, reconstruct, remodel, rectify, rehabilitate, regenerate, reorganize, reconstitute, revolutionize, ameliorate, emend his plans to reform the country's economy
2. mend your ways, go straight (informal), shape up (informal), get it together (informal), turn over a new leaf, get your act together (informal), clean up your act (informal), pull your socks up (Brit. informal), get back on the straight and narrow (informal) Under such a system where is the incentive to reform?
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
reform
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
إصلاحإصْلاحاتيُصْلِح
reformazlepšenínápravanapravitpolepšit se
forbedreforbedre sigforbedring
reformiuudistaauudistuauudistus
reformareformirati
reform
bæta ráî sittbæta; betraumbót
pasikeitęspasitaisęspertvarkytojasreformareformacija
labotlabotiespāraudzinātuzlabot
polepšiť sareforma
preureditireforma
reform
[rɪˈfɔːm]C. VI [person] → reformarse
D. CPD Reform Jew N → judio/a m/f reformista
Reform Judaism N → judaísmo m reformista
reform law N → ley f de reforma
reform movement N → movimiento m de reforma
reform school N (US) → reformatorio m
Reform Judaism N → judaísmo m reformista
reform law N → ley f de reforma
reform movement N → movimiento m de reforma
reform school N (US) → reformatorio m
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
reform
[rɪˈfɔːrm] n → réforme f
He called for the reform of the divorce laws → Il a appelé à la réforme des lois sur le divorce.
economic reform → réforme économique
constitutional reform → réforme constitutionnelle
electoral reform → réforme électorale
He called for the reform of the divorce laws → Il a appelé à la réforme des lois sur le divorce.
economic reform → réforme économique
constitutional reform → réforme constitutionnelle
electoral reform → réforme électorale
vi
(= change) [person] → s'amender
[ˌriːˈfɔːrm] (= form again) [group, organization] → se reformer
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
reform
n → Reform f; (of person) → Besserung f; reform measures → Reformmaßnahmen pl; reform school (Brit dated, US) → Besserungsanstalt f ? land reform
vt law, institutions, services, spelling system → reformieren; society also → verbessern; conduct, person → bessern
vi (person) → sich bessern
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
reform
[rɪˈfɔːm]1. n → riforma
2. vt (society, morals) → riformare; (criminal) → rieducare, ricuperare socialmente; (person's character) → correggere
3. vi (person) → emendarsi
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
reform
(rəˈfoːm) verb1. to improve or remove faults from. The criminal's wife stated that she had made great efforts to reform her husband.
2. to give up bad habits, improve one's behaviour etc. He admitted that he had been a criminal, but said that he intended to reform.
noun1. the act of improving. the reform of our political system.
2. an improvement. He intends to make several reforms in the prison system.
ˌreforˈmation (refə-) nounreˈformed adjective
(negative unreformed) improved, especially in behaviour.
reˈformer noun a person who wishes to bring about improvements. one of the reformers of our political system.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
reform
n. reforma, cambio;
v. reformar, cambiar; reformarse.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012