/rɪˈfreɪn/
re·frain
BrE /rɪˈfreɪn/
NAmE /rɪˈfreɪn/
[I] (formal)
to stop yourself from doing sth, especially sth that you want to do
SYN desist
~ (from sth)
Please refrain from smoking.
~ (from doing sth)
He has refrained from criticizing the government in public.
re·frain
BrE /rɪˈfreɪn/
NAmE /rɪˈfreɪn/
a comment or complaint that is often repeated
Complaints about poor food in schools have become a familiar refrain.
the part of a song or a poem that is repeated after each Verse
SYN chorus