pure
Pluralpures
- 1
- 2Clean, with no dirt or other substances mixed in.
Like water that has nothing in it but water.
The mountain stream was so pure you could drink straight from it.
They sell pure honey with nothing added to it.
UsageYou can say purer and purest.
Similarunadulterated, unalloyed, undiluted, uncontaminated
Oppositeimpure, contaminated, adulterated, mixed
Note
- 3
- 4Describes an animal or plant that comes from just one breed or line, never mixed with others.
Is your dog a pure Labrador, or is she a mix?
The farmer has kept a pure line of these tomatoes for over fifty years.
UsageFor dogs and horses, people usually say purebred.
Similarpurebred, thoroughbred
Oppositecrossbred, hybrid, mixed
Note
- 5Perfect and clean, with no marks, flaws, or damage.
Like a brand-new mirror without a single scratch.
The fresh snow lay pure and white across the field.
The baby's skin was soft and pure, without a single mark.
Similarflawless, perfect, unblemished, immaculate, pristine
- 6Studied to gain knowledge itself, not to solve a real-world problem.
Like learning something just because it interests you, not because a job needs it.
He studies pure math for the ideas, not to build anything.
Pure math often finds real uses many years later.
UsagePure math is the opposite of applied math.
Similartheoretical, abstract, basic, fundamental
- 7
Less common meanings
- 8
- 9Having one simple sound, like a vowel that does not slide into another.
Like holding one note steady instead of sliding between two.
Spanish vowels are often pure, holding one steady sound.
A pure vowel does not glide the way a diphthong does.
Note
- 10
- 11Very or extremely, to a high degree.
I was pure tired after the long walk home.
It's pure freezing out there this morning.
Similarreally, totally, completely, absolutely, utterly
Note
- 12In Bermuda slang, a lot of something.
We played pure dominoes at my aunt's house last night.
There was pure traffic on the way into town.
Note
- 13To make something clean or purer by taking out what does not belong.
Note
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
From Latin pūrus, meaning "clean" or "unmixed", which came into English through Old French pur.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- English pure derives from Latin pūrus through Old French pur. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin pūrus meant clean or unmixed. thrax.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de