refuse

Universal Words verb 1 to say that you will not do sth that sb has asked you to do: [V] Go on, ask her; she can hardly refuse. * [Vtoinf] He flatly refused to discuss the matter. * She refused to accept that there was a problem. 2 [VN] to say that you do not want sth that has been offered to you SYNTURNDOWN: I politely refused their invitation. * The job offer was simply too good to refuse. 3 [VNN] to say that you will not give sb sth that they want or need: They refused him a visa. * She would never refuse her kids anything. noun [U] (written) waste material that has been thrown away SYNRUBBISH/GARBAGE: domestic / household refuse * the city refuse dump * refuse collection / disposal -< RUBBISH