/ pjʊə(r); NAmE pjʊr/ adjective
( purer / ˈpjʊərə(r); NAmE ˈpjʊr-/, purest / ˈpjʊərɪst; NAmE ˈpjʊr-/)
NOT MIXED
1.
[ usually before noun ] not mixed with anything else; with nothing added :
pure gold / silk, etc.
These shirts are 100% pure cotton.
Classical dance in its purest form requires symmetry and balance.
One movie is classified as pure art, the other as entertainment.
CLEAN
2.
clean and not containing any harmful substances :
a bottle of pure water
The air was sweet and pure.
OPP impure
COMPLETE
3.
[ only before noun ] complete and total :
They met by pure chance.
She laughed with pure joy.
MORALLY GOOD
4.
without evil thoughts or actions, especially sexual ones; morally good :
to lead a pure life
His motives were pure.
( literary )
to be pure in body and mind
OPP impure
COLOUR / SOUND / LIGHT
5.
very clear; perfect :
beaches of pure white sand
a pure voice
SUBJECT YOU STUDY
6.
[ only before noun ] concerned with increasing knowledge of the subject rather than with using knowledge in practical ways :
pure mathematics
technology as opposed to pure science subjects
—compare applied
BREED / RACE
7.
not mixed with any other breed or race, etc. :
These cattle are one of the purest breeds in Britain.
—see also pure-bred
—see also purify , purity
•
IDIOMS
- pure and simple
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French pur pure, from Latin purus .