cleanse

views updated May 21 2018

cleanse / klenz/ • v. [tr.] make (something, esp. the skin) thoroughly clean: this preparation will cleanse and tighten the skin. ∎  rid (a person, place, or thing) of something seen as unpleasant, unwanted, or defiling: the mission to cleanse the nation of subversives. ∎  free (someone) from sin or guilt. ∎ archaic (in biblical translations) cure (a leper).

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