炼
smelt; refine; temper; polish
Meanings
4 senses · 20 examplesverb
to smelt; to refine; to purify
Refers to the process of removing impurities from metal, oil, or concentrating milk.
This factory is specifically used for making steel.
The workers are smelting iron by the blast furnace.
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Crude oil can be turned into gasoline after refining.
Condensed milk is a very sweet type of concentrated milk.
A hundred smeltings make steel; only through hardships can one succeed.
verb
to burn; to fire
Often used in the context of withstanding fire or trial, as in the idiom 'true gold fears no fire'.
True gold fears no fire.
After being fired, this clay became very hard.
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Fierce fire tests true gold; adversity reveals true friendship.
These pottery pieces were fired at high temperatures.
He survived in an environment like a fiery purgatory.
verb
to polish; to refine (text); to temper (oneself)
Used for writing (refining words/sentences) or personal growth (tempering one's will).
When writing essays, one must pay attention to polishing words and sentences.
This poem underwent repeated polishing by the author.
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We must forge a strong will amidst difficulties.
Years of military life forged his iron discipline.
Only through the tempering of life can a person become mature.
noun
a Chinese surname
A rare surname in Chinese.
Mr. Lian is our new neighbor.
May I ask your surname? My surname is Lian.
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The surname Lian is very rare.
I have a colleague surnamed Lian, named Lian Zhigang.
Miss Lian, someone is looking for you in the lobby.