refinement
n. C / Un. the process of making small changes to something to make it better or more perfect. It can also mean the quality of having good taste and polite manners.
n. the process of improving something by making small, precise changes; also refers to the quality of elegance or cultivation in person or style. Often implies the removal of impurities or flaws.
The car's design underwent several refinements before the final launch.
After months of testing, the software engineers introduced a refinement to the algorithm that significantly reduced processing time.
The pianist's performance was marked by a level of technical refinement that elevated the familiar piece into something entirely new and profound.
From refine + -ment.
Countable when referring to specific improvements; uncountable when referring to the abstract quality of elegance or the general process of purification.