pure

[[t]pjʊ͟ə(r)[/t]]

♦♦♦

purer, purest

1) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n A pure substance is not mixed with anything else.

...a carton of pure orange juice.

2) ADJ-GRADED Something that is pure is clean and does not contain any harmful substances.

In remote regions, the air is pure and the crops are free of poisonous insecticides.

...demands for purer and cleaner river water.

Ant:

contaminated

Derived words:

purity N-UNCOUNT with poss

They worried about the purity of tap water.

3) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n If you describe something such as a colour, a sound, or a type of light as pure, you mean that it is very clear and represents a perfect example of its type.

These flowers bring to the garden a whole family of blue colours with the occasional pure white.

Derived words:

purity N-UNCOUNT

The soaring purity of her voice conjured up the frozen bleakness of the Far North.

4) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n If you describe a form of art or a philosophy as pure, you mean that it is produced or practised according to a standard or form that is expected of it. [FORMAL]

Nicholson never swerved from his aim of making pure and simple art.

Derived words:

purity N-UNCOUNT

...verse of great purity, sonority of rhythm, and symphonic form.

5) ADJ: ADJ n Pure science or pure research is concerned only with theory and not with how this theory can be used in practical ways.

Physics isn't just about pure science with no immediate applications...

They did not approach their subject solely as a matter of `pure' theory.

Ant:

applied

6) ADJ-GRADED (emphasis) Pure means complete and total.

The old man turned to give her a look of pure surprise...

To sleep on my own and not hear the boys snore or grunt was pure bliss.

Syn:

sheer

7) ADJ-GRADED A person, especially a woman, who is described as pure is considered to be morally good, especially because they have no sexual experience or sexual thoughts. [LITERARY]

She was baptized and she was pure and clean of sin.

Syn:

unsullied

Derived words:

purity N-UNCOUNT usu with supp

The American Female Reform Society promoted sexual purity.

8) PHRASE: n PHR, PHR n (emphasis) You use pure and simple to emphasize that the thing you are mentioning is the only thing that is involved or that should be considered.

It's blackmail, pure and simple.