pure

 
Pronunciation: /pjʊə/

adjective

  • 1not mixed or adulterated with any other substance or material: cars can run on pure alcohol the jacket was pure wool
  • without any extraneous and unnecessary elements: the romantic notion of pure art devoid of social responsibility
  • free of any contamination: the pure, clear waters of Scotland
  • (also pure-bred) (of an animal or plant) of unmixed origin or descent; pedigree: the pure Charolais is white or light wheat in the coat 80 pure-bred stallions were on parade
  • 2(of a sound) perfectly in tune and with a clear tone: these small cymbals produce a quiet but high pitched and very pure note
  • 3wholesome and untainted by immorality, especially that of a sexual nature: our fondness for each other is pure and innocent
  • 4(of a subject of study) dealing with abstract concepts and not practical application: a theoretical discipline such as pure physicsCompare with applied.
  • 5 [attributive] involving or containing nothing else but; sheer (used for emphasis): a shout of pure anger an outcome which may be a matter of pure chance it was revenge, pure and simple
  • 6 Phonetics (of a vowel) not joined with another to form a diphthong.

Derivatives

pureness

noun

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French pur 'pure', from Latin purus