reformer
/ri'fɔ:mə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A person who advocates for or works to bring about change and improvement in a system, institution, or practice, especially in social, political, or religious contexts. 2. A device or apparatus used in the petrochemical industry to alter the molecular structure of hydrocarbons, typically to produce higher-octane gasoline or hydrogen.
Examples of Usage
- Person advocating change:
- Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered as a great social reformer who fought for civil rights.
- The new mayor positioned herself as a reformer, promising to clean up city hall.
- Industrial apparatus:
- The refinery installed a new catalytic reformer to increase fuel efficiency.
- Hydrogen for the fuel cells is produced by a steam methane reformer.
Advanced Usage
- Historical Context: Often capitalized when referring to specific historical figures or movements (e.g., ).
- "A reformer at heart": Describes someone whose fundamental nature is to seek improvement and change.
- Though she worked within the old system, she was a reformer at heart.
Variants and Related Words
- Reform (verb/noun): The act or process of improving or changing something.
- Reformist (noun/adj): A person who supports or engages in political or social reform.
- Reformation (noun): The action or process of reforming an institution or practice (often capitalized: ).
Synonyms
- For a person: Change agent, innovator, progressive, campaigner, activist, improver.
- For an apparatus: Processor, converter.
Antonyms
- For a person: Conservative, traditionalist, reactionary.
Related Phrases
- "Agent of change": A phrase with a similar meaning to a person who is a reformer.
- "Catalytic reformer": A specific type of industrial reformer that uses a catalyst to facilitate the chemical reactions.
Noun
- an apparatus that reforms the molecular structure of hydrocarbons to produce richer fuel
- a catalytic reformer
- a disputant who advocates reform