Definition of: purify

(pyr′ə·fī) v. ·fied, ·fy·ing v.t.
1. To make pure or clean; rid of extraneous or noxious matter.
2. To free from sin or defilement.
3. To free of foreign or debasing elements, as a language.
—v.i.
4. To become pure or clean. [<OF purifier <L purificare <purus pure + facere make]
—pu·rif·i·ca·to·ry (py·rif′ə·kə·tôr′ē, -tō′rē-) adjective
—pu′·ri·fi′er noun Synonyms: clarify, clean, cleanse, filter, refine, wash. See AMEND, CHASTEN, CLEANSE. Antonyms: contaminate, corrupt, debase, defile, deprave, infect, poison, taint, vitiate.