refurbish
UK[ˌriːˈfɜːbɪʃ]US[ˌriːˈfɜːrbɪʃ]
v
to clean and decorate a room, building, etc. in order to make it more attractive, more useful, or of a higher standard
v
to make a machine, device, or piece of equipment ready for use again by repairing or replacing parts
Morpheme Breakdown
re
furbish
re
again
furbish
to polish
Etymology
The word 'refurbish' is a relatively modern English formation, first appearing in the early 17th century. It combines the Latin-derived prefix 're-', indicating repetition, with the older verb 'furbish', which itself descends from Old French and ultimately from a Frankish (Germanic) root meaning to polish or clean. The literal sense of polishing something again evolved into the broader modern meaning of renovating or restoring something to a good condition, not just through cleaning but often through repair and updating. This semantic expansion reflects the word's application to buildings, technology, and other complex systems beyond simple metalwork.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + furbish (to polish)
re- is a Latin prefix meaning "again" or "back". furbish is from the Old French verb forbir, meaning "to polish" or "to clean", which is of Germanic origin.
Examples
The old theater has been completely refurbished and reopened to the public.
He buys used smartphones, refurbishes them, and sells them online.
The hotel is closed for the winter while the rooms are being refurbished.