pure

pure

adj \ˈpyu̇r\

pur·erpur·est

Definition of PURE

1

a (1) : unmixed with any other matter <pure gold> (2) : free from dust, dirt, or taint <pure springwater> (3) : spotless, stainless b : free from harshness or roughness and being in tune —used of a musical tone c of a vowel : characterized by no appreciable alteration of articulation during utterance

2

a : being thus and no other : sheer, unmitigated <pure folly> b (1) : abstract, theoretical <pure research> (2) : a priori <pure mechanics> c : not directed toward exposition of reality or solution of practical problems <pure literature> d : being nonobjective and to be appraised on formal and technical qualities only <pure form>

3

a (1) : free from what vitiates, weakens, or pollutes (2) : containing nothing that does not properly belong b : free from moral fault or guilt c : marked by chastity : continent d (1) : of pure blood and unmixed ancestry (2) : homozygous in and breeding true for one or more characters e : ritually clean

4

: having exactly the talents or skills needed for a particular role <a pure shooter in basketball>

— pure·ness noun

Examples of PURE

1. The company bottles only the purest water.
2. the pure notes of the flute

Origin of PURE

Middle English pur, from Anglo-French, from Latin purus; akin to Old High German fowen to sift, Sanskrit punāti he cleanses, Middle Irish úr fresh, new

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PURE

Synonyms: absolute, fine, neat, plain, purified, refined, straight, unadulterated, unalloyed, undiluted, unmixed

Antonyms: adulterated, alloyed, diluted, impure, mixed

Related Words: clarified, filtered; clean, fresh, taintless, uncontaminated, uncorrupted, undefiled, unpolluted, untainted; rendered, tried; concentrated, full-bodied, strong; uncombined

Near Antonyms: befouled, besmirched, contaminated, corrupted, debased, defiled, fouled, polluted, soiled, spoiled, sullied, tainted; unclarified; amalgamated, blended, coalesced, combined, commingled, compounded, incorporated, intermingled, intermixed, merged, mingled; conjoined, fused, joined, linked, united; cheapened, doctored, watered-down

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at chaste

Rhymes with PURE

Boer, boor, cure, dour, fewer, lure, moor, Moor, Muir, poor, Ruhr, sewer, skewer, spoor, stour, sure, tour, Tours, your