Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Refuse \Re*fuse"\ (r?*f?z"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Refused}
   (-f?zd"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Refusing}.] [F. refuser, either
   from (assumed) LL. refusare to refuse, v. freq. of L.
   refundere to pour back, give back, restore (see {Refund} to
   repay), or. fr. L. recusare to decline, refuse cf. {Accuse},
   {Ruse}), influenced by L. refutare to drive back, repel,
   refute. Cf. {Refute}.]
   1. To deny, as a request, demand, invitation, or command; to
      decline to do or grant.

            That never yet refused your hest.     --Chaucer.

   2. (Mil.) To throw back, or cause to keep back (as the
      center, a wing, or a flank), out of the regular aligment
      when troops ar? about to engage the enemy; as, to refuse
      the right wing while the left wing attacks.

   3. To decline to accept; to reject; to deny the request or
      petition of; as, to refuse a suitor.

            The cunning workman never doth refuse The meanest
            tool that he may chance to use.       --Herbert.

   4. To disown. [Obs.] ``Refuse thy name.'' --Shak.

Refuse \Re*fuse"\, v. i.
   To deny compliance; not to comply.

         Too proud to ask, too humble to refuse.  --Garth.

         If ye refuse . . . ye shall be devoured with the sword.
                                                  --Isa. i. 20.

Refuse \Re*fuse"\, n.
   Refusal. [Obs.] --Fairfax.

Refuse \Ref`use\ (r?f"?s;277), n. [F. refus refusal, also, that
   which is refused. See {Refuse} to deny.]
   That which is refused or rejected as useless; waste or
   worthless matter.

   Syn: Dregs; sediment; scum; recrement; dross.

Refuse \Ref"use\, a.
   Refused; rejected; hence; left as unworthy of acceptance; of
   no value; worthless.

         Everything that was vile and refuse, that they
         destroyed utterly.                       --1. Sam. xv.
                                                  9.

Source : WordNet®

refuse
     n : food that is discarded (as from a kitchen) [syn: {garbage},
         {food waste}, {scraps}]
     v 1: show unwillingness towards; "he declined to join the group
          on a hike" [syn: {decline}] [ant: {accept}]
     2: refuse to accept; "He refused my offer of hospitality" [syn:
         {reject}, {pass up}, {turn down}, {decline}] [ant: {accept}]
     3: elude, especially in a baffling way; "This behavior defies
        explanation" [syn: {defy}, {resist}] [ant: {lend oneself}]
     4: refuse to let have; "She denies me every pleasure"; "he
        denies her her weekly allowance" [syn: {deny}] [ant: {allow}]
     5: resist immunologically the introduction of some foreign
        tissue or organ; "His body rejected the liver of the
        donor" [syn: {resist}, {reject}]
     6: refuse entrance or membership; "They turned away hundreds of
        fans"; "Black people were often rejected by country clubs"
        [syn: {reject}, {turn down}, {turn away}] [ant: {admit}]