Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- transitive verb To set right; correct: synonym: correct.
- transitive verb To correct by calculation or adjustment.
- transitive verb Chemistry To refine or purify, especially by distillation.
- transitive verb Electronics To convert (alternating current) into direct current.
- transitive verb To adjust (the proof of alcoholic beverages) by adding water or other liquids.
from The Century Dictionary.
- In electricity, to change (an alternating electric current) into a direct current by redirecting the successively opposite impulses of the alternating current so as to flow in the same direction. See
rectifier . - To make right or straight; correct when wrong, erroneous, or false; amend: as, to
rectify errors, mistakes, or abuses: sometimes applied to persons. - Specifically In distilling:
- To remove impurities from (an alcoholic distillate) and raise to a required proof or strength by repeated distillation.
- Hence— To bring (a. spirit) by repeated distillation to the strength required, and at the same time to impart to it the desired flavor. See
rectifier . - In chemical manuf. and in pharmacy:
- To separate impurities from (a crystalline body) by dissolving and recrystallizing it, sometimes repeatedly, and sometimes also with intermediate washing of the crystals.
- To raise (a liquid) to a prescribed strength by extraction of some part of its liquid components.
- To remove impurities from (solutions) by filtering them through substances absorbent of dissolved impurities, but non-absorbent of, and chemically inactive upon, the substance to be purified. Of such materials bone-black is a typical example, especially in sugar-refining
- To purify by one or more resublimations.
- In mathematics, to determine the length of (a curve, or a part of a curve) included between two limits.
- In the use of the globes, to place (a globe) in such a position that the solution of a given problem may be effected with it.
- Synonyms Improve, Better, etc. (see
amend ), redress, adjust, regulate.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- transitive verb To make or set right; to correct from a wrong, erroneous, or false state; to amend
- transitive verb (Chem.) To refine or purify by repeated distillation or sublimation, by which the fine parts of a substance are separated from the grosser.
- transitive verb (Com.) To produce ( as factitious gin or brandy) by redistilling low wines or ardent spirits (whisky, rum, etc.), flavoring substances, etc., being added.
- transitive verb to adjust it in order to prepare for the solution of a proposed problem.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb transitive To
correct oramend something. - verb transitive, chemistry To
purify orrefine , especially bydistillation . - verb transitive, electronics To
convert alternating current intodirect current .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb set straight or right
- verb reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; separate from extraneous matter or cleanse from impurities
- verb math: determine the length of
- verb bring, lead, or force to abandon a wrong or evil course of life, conduct, and adopt a right one
- verb make right or correct
- verb convert into direct current
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word rectify.
Examples
-
Hillary supporters get a grip ... how can a vote for McCain rectify sexism?
-
One thing he has not been able to rectify is their ability to hold a lead.
NHL - National Hockey League - N.Y. Islanders vs. Philadelphia
-
I wonder where the "Winston department" is whose job is to "rectify" all past news articles which have since been "proven" to be false?
-
Something which the expansion of higher education will in time no doubt "rectify" ...
Giving evidence to the Chilcot inquiry, Tony Blair said: “I...
-
Aunt May and Felicia Hardy to "rectify" that idiotic mistake and reestablish one's secret.
Newspaper Comic Strip Spider-Man is the Worst Spider-Man of All.
-
Aunt May and Felicia Hardy to "rectify" that idiotic mistake and reestablish one's secret.
Newspaper Comic Strip Spider-Man is the Worst Spider-Man of All.
-
LAKE: Is that what's needed to kind of rectify the economic problem we have in the U.S. just time?
-
It used to amuse him to think of Burton, the lonely Oxford scholar, writing that vast book to "rectify" his own melancholy.
-
Home: PM upset, seeks to 'rectify' pension payments to Olson
-
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Thursday he was upset to learn that a convicted murderer spending life in prison is receiving old-age benefits, and he plans to "rectify" the situation.
vanishedone commented on the word rectify
This is why WeirdNet's creators never rectified its errors.
November 9, 2008