REFORM
Dictionary entry overview: What does reform mean?
• REFORM (noun)
The noun REFORM has 3 senses:
1. a change for the better as a result of correcting abuses
2. a campaign aimed to correct abuses or malpractices
3. self-improvement in behavior or morals by abandoning some vice
Familiarity information: REFORM used as a noun is uncommon.
• REFORM (verb)
The verb REFORM has 6 senses:
1. make changes for improvement in order to remove abuse and injustices
2. bring, lead, or force to abandon a wrong or evil course of life, conduct, and adopt a right one
3. produce by cracking
4. break up the molecules of
5. improve by alteration or correction of errors or defects and put into a better condition
6. change for the better
Familiarity information: REFORM used as a verb is common.
Dictionary entry details
• REFORM (noun)
Meaning:
A change for the better as a result of correcting abuses
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Context example:
justice was for sale before the reform of the law courts
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)
Meaning:
A campaign aimed to correct abuses or malpractices
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Context example:
the reforms he proposed were too radical for the politicians
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)
Meaning:
Self-improvement in behavior or morals by abandoning some vice
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Context example:
the family rejoiced in the drunkard's reform
Hypernyms ("reform" is a kind of...):
self-improvement; self-reformation (the act of improving yourself)
• REFORM (verb)
Meaning:
Make changes for improvement in order to remove abuse and injustices
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
reform a political system
Hypernyms (to "reform" is one way to...):
ameliorate; amend; better; improve; meliorate (to make better)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Bring, lead, or force to abandon a wrong or evil course of life, conduct, and adopt a right one
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
reform; reclaim; rectify; regenerate
Context examples:
The Church reformed me / reform your conduct
Hypernyms (to "reform" is one way to...):
alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)
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
Meaning:
Produce by cracking
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
reform gas
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
Meaning:
Break up the molecules of
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
reform oil
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
Meaning:
Improve by alteration or correction of errors or defects and put into a better condition
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
reform the health system in this country
Hypernyms (to "reform" is one way to...):
ameliorate; amend; better; improve; meliorate (to make better)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Change for the better
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
see the light; straighten out; reform
Context examples:
The lazy student promised to reform / the habitual cheater finally saw the light
Hypernyms (to "reform" is one way to...):
ameliorate; better; improve; meliorate (get better)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
