Library / English Dictionary

PURGE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

An abrupt or sudden removal of a person or group from an organization or place

Example:

he died in a purge by Stalin

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("purge" is a kind of...):

removal (dismissal from office)

Derivation:

purge (oust politically)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An act of removing by cleansing; ridding of sediment or other undesired elements

Synonyms:

purge; purging

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("purge" is a kind of...):

cleaning; cleansing; cleanup (the act of making something clean)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "purge"):

abreaction; catharsis; katharsis ((psychoanalysis) purging of emotional tensions)

catharsis; katharsis; purgation (purging the body by the use of a cathartic to stimulate evacuation of the bowels)

Derivation:

purge (rinse, clean, or empty with a liquid)

purge (rid of impurities)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The act of clearing yourself (or another) from some stigma or charge

Synonyms:

purgation; purge; purging

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("purge" is a kind of...):

clearing (the act of freeing from suspicion)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "purge"):

purification (the act of purging of sin or guilt; moral or spiritual cleansing)

Derivation:

purge (make pure or free from sin or guilt)

purge (clear of a charge)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Excrete or evacuate (someone's bowels or body)

Example:

The doctor decided that the patient must be purged

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "purge" is one way to...):

care for; treat (provide treatment for)

Cause:

empty; evacuate; void (excrete or discharge from the body)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

purgation (purging the body by the use of a cathartic to stimulate evacuation of the bowels)

purgative (strongly laxative)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Eject the contents of the stomach through the mouth

Example:

The patient regurgitated the food we gave him last night

Synonyms:

barf; be sick; cast; cat; chuck; disgorge; honk; puke; purge; regorge; regurgitate; retch; sick; spew; spue; throw up; upchuck; vomit; vomit up

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "purge" is one way to...):

egest; eliminate; excrete; pass (eliminate from the body)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sense 3

Meaning:

Rinse, clean, or empty with a liquid

Example:

purge the old gas tank

Synonyms:

flush; purge; scour

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "purge" is one way to...):

rinse; rinse off (wash off soap or remaining dirt)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

purge (an act of removing by cleansing; ridding of sediment or other undesired elements)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Rid of impurities

Example:

purge your mind

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "purge" is one way to...):

distill; make pure; purify; sublimate (remove impurities from, increase the concentration of, and separate through the process of distillation)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

purging (the act of clearing yourself (or another) from some stigma or charge)

purging; purge (an act of removing by cleansing; ridding of sediment or other undesired elements)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Make pure or free from sin or guilt

Example:

he left the monastery purified

Synonyms:

purge; purify; sanctify

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "purge" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "purge"):

spiritualise; spiritualize (purify from the corrupting influences of the world)

lustrate (purify by means of a ritual; also used in post-Communist countries to refer to the political cleansing of former officials)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

purgation (a ceremonial cleansing from defilement or uncleanness by the performance of appropriate rites)

purge (the act of clearing yourself (or another) from some stigma or charge)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Clear of a charge

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "purge" is one way to...):

acquit; assoil; clear; discharge; exculpate; exonerate (pronounce not guilty of criminal charges)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

purgation; purge (the act of clearing yourself (or another) from some stigma or charge)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Oust politically

Example:

Deng Xiao Ping was purged several times throughout his lifetime

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "purge" is one way to...):

oppress; persecute (cause to suffer)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Antonym:

rehabilitate (reinstall politically)

Derivation:

purge (an abrupt or sudden removal of a person or group from an organization or place)

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