v.
- make changes in (something, especially an institution or practice) in order to improve it.
▸cause (someone) to relinquish an immoral or criminal lifestyle.
- Chemistry subject (hydrocarbons) to a catalytic process in which straight-chain molecules are converted to branched forms.
n.
the action or process of reforming.
Derivative
- reformable adj.
- reformative adj.
- reformed adj.
- reformer n.
Etymology
ME (in the senses ‘restore peace’ and ‘restore to the original condition’): from OFr. reformer or L. reformare, from re- ‘back’ + formare ‘to form’.