1. Having low density
   "The rarified air at high altitude made breathing difficult";
   - rare, rarefied
    
2. Of superior moral, intellectual, or spiritual quality; rising above the ordinary or mundane
   "The professor's rarified discourse was beyond most students' comprehension";
   - exalted, elevated, sublime, grand, high-flown, lofty, rarefied

1. Lessen the density or solidity of
   - rarefy
    
2. (chemistry) weaken the consistency of (a chemical substance)
   "The mixture was rarified through distillation";
   - rarefy, attenuate
    
3. Make more subtle or refined
   "The philosopher rarified the concept to its essence";
   - rarefy, sublimate, subtilize, subtilise [Brit]
    
4. Make more complex, intricate, or rich
   "rarify a design or pattern";
   - complicate, refine, elaborate, rarefy

See also: high-minded, idealistic, noble, noble-minded, thin

Type of: alter, change, modify, weaken

Encyclopedia: Rarified