/ Dictionary / Index R refractory: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: re•frac•to•ry Pronunciation: (ri-frak'tu-rē), [key] — adj., n., pl. -ries. —adj. hard or impossible to manage; stubbornly disobedient: a refractory child. resisting ordinary methods of treatment. difficult to fuse, reduce, or work, as an ore or metal. —n. a material having the ability to retain its physical shape and chemical identity when subjected to high temperatures. bricks of various shapes used in lining furnaces. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. See also: refractory (Thesaurus) refractor refractory period Related Content Daily Word Quiz: pertinent Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language