1. [n]  the part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers
2. [v]  choose to refrain; "I abstain from alcohol"
3. [v]  not do something; "He refrained from hitting him back"; "she could not forbear weeping"

REFRAIN is a 7 letter word that starts with R.

1. \Re*frain"\ (r?*fr?n"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Refrained}
   (-fr?nd"); p. pr. & vb/ n. {Refraining}.] [OE. refreinen, OF.
   refrener, F. refr?ner, fr. L. refrenare; influenced by OF.
   refraindre to restrain, moderate, fr. LL. refrangere, for L.
   refringere to break up, break (see {Refract}). L. refrenare
   is fr. pref. re- back + frenum bridle; cf. Skr. dh? to hold.]
   1. To hold back; to restrain; to keep within prescribed
      bounds; to curb; to govern.
   
            His reson refraineth not his foul delight or talent.
                                                  --Chaucer.
   
            Refrain thy foot from their path.     --Prov. i. 15.
   
   2. To abstain from [Obs.]
   
            Who, requiring a remedy for his gout, received no
            other counsel than to refrain cold drink. --Sir T.
                                                  Browne.
   
   

2. \Re*frain"\, v. i.
   To keep one's self from action or interference; to hold
   aloof; to forbear; to abstain.
   
         Refrain from these men, and let them alone. --Acts v.
                                                  38.
   
         They refrained therefrom [eating flesh] some time
         after.                                   --Sir T.
                                                  Browne.
   
   Syn: To hold back; forbear; abstain; withhold.
   
   

3. \Re*frain"\, n. [F. refrain, fr. OF. refraindre; cf. Pr.
   refranhs a refrain, refranher to repeat. See
   {Refract},{Refrain}, v.]
   The burden of a song; a phrase or verse which recurs at the
   end of each of the separate stanzas or divisions of a poetic
   composition.
   
         We hear the wild refrain.                --Whittier.