Definition

1. Noun:
   • A short training course that reviews and updates knowledge: A "refresher" is a course or session designed to help people remember and update information or skills they have learned before, especially when those skills are not used regularly.
   • Something that refreshes, especially a drink: A "refresher" can be something that makes you feel less tired, more energetic, or cooler, most commonly a beverage.
   • An extra fee paid to a lawyer: In legal contexts, a "refresher" is an additional payment made to a barrister (a type of lawyer) for each day a court case continues beyond the first day.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Training Course):

  • All employees must take a safety refresher every year.
  • She attended a refresher on the new software before starting the project.

• Noun (Drink):

  • After the long hike, a cold lemonade was the perfect refresher.
  • He ordered a mint refresher to cool down.

• Noun (Legal Fee):

  • The barrister's brief fee was £5,000, with a daily refresher of £1,000.
  • Refreshers are standard practice for lengthy trials.

Advanced Usage

• "refresher course": This is the most common compound phrase. It specifically means a short course to review and update previous knowledge.
  • The pilot had to complete a simulator refresher course to maintain his license.

Variants and Related Words

• Refresh (verb): To make someone feel less tired or less hot; to update or revive something.

  • A short nap will refresh you.
  • I need to refresh my memory on the rules.

• Refreshing (adjective): Making you feel less tired, hot, or thirsty; pleasantly new or different.

  • A refreshing swim.
  • His honesty was refreshing.

Synonyms

• Review course / Brush-up course (for the training meaning).
• Reviver / Pick-me-up (for the drink meaning).
• Supplementary fee / Retainer (for the legal fee meaning, though not exact equivalents).

Related Phrases

• "to take a refresher": To participate in a refresher course.

  • It's a good idea for nurses to take a refresher every few years.

• "to serve as a refresher": To function as a reminder or review.

  • This summary will serve as a useful refresher before the exam.

Noun

1. a course that reviews and updates a topic for those who have not kept abreast of developments
2. a drink that refreshes
   • he stopped at the bar for a quick refresher
3. a fee (in addition to that marked on the brief) paid to counsel in a case that lasts more than one day