cleanse — to make something completely clean, especially by removing dirt, bacteria, or unwanted substances
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to make something completely clean, especially by removing dirt, bacteria, or unwanted substances
Pronunciation (IPA): /klenz/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother swears that lemon water can cleanse any bad mood along with your liver.
- The heavy rain helped cleanse the polluted air in the city.
- He tried to cleanse his browser history, but his mom still found out about his midnight pizza research.
cleanse
VERB[/klenz/]
to make something completely clean, especially by removing dirt, bacteria, or unwanted substances
Image coming soon
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Old English 'clænsian', meaning 'to make clean'. The verb evolved from the same root as 'clean', originally denoting physical removal of dirt or impurities. Over time, the meaning expanded metaphorically to include spiritual, moral, and emotional purification.
Breakdown
clean- (root meaning 'pure, clean') + -se (Old English verb-forming suffix). The '-se' suffix transforms the adjective 'clean' into a causative verb meaning 'to make clean'.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother swears that lemon water can cleanse any bad mood along with your liver.”
“The heavy rain helped cleanse the polluted air in the city.”
“He tried to cleanse his browser history, but his mom still found out about his midnight pizza research.”
“The detox program promises to cleanse your system in just seven days.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.