| / English Dictionary |
CLEANSING
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The act of making something clean
Example:
he gave his shoes a good cleaning
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("cleansing" is a kind of...):
improvement (the act of improving something)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "cleansing"):
disinfestation (the activity of getting rid of vermin)
spring-cleaning (the activity of cleaning a house thoroughly at the end of winter)
scouring; scrub; scrubbing (the act of cleaning a surface by rubbing it with a brush and soap and water)
dry cleaning (the act of cleaning (fabrics) with a solvent other than water)
sweeping (the act of cleaning with a broom)
purge; purging (an act of removing by cleansing; ridding of sediment or other undesired elements)
purification (the act of cleaning by getting rid of impurities)
sterilisation; sterilization (the procedure of making some object free of live bacteria or other microorganisms (usually by heat or chemical means))
sanitation; sanitisation; sanitization (making something sanitary (free of germs) as by sterilizing)
depilation; epilation (the act of removing hair (as from an animal skin))
bathing; washup (the act of washing yourself (or another person))
housecleaning (the act of cleaning the rooms and furnishings of a house)
Derivation:
cleanse (clean one's body or parts thereof, as by washing)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Acting like an antiseptic
Synonyms:
cleansing; purifying
Classified under:
Similar:
antiseptic (thoroughly clean and free of or destructive to disease-causing organisms)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Cleansing the body by washing; especially ritual washing of e.g. hands
Example:
ablutionary rituals
Synonyms:
ablutionary; cleansing
Classified under:
Similar:
purifying (freeing from noxious matter)
III. (verb)
Sense 1
-ing form of the verb cleanse
Context examples:
Instillation of a solution into the bladder to provide cleansing or medication.
(Bladder Irrigation, NCI Thesaurus)
It is typically used for applying medication or for cleansing.
(Cloth Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)
A solid in the shape of a bar composed of active and/or inert ingredient(s) in an anionic surfactant, for cleansing.
(Bar Soap Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)
Most cleansing solutions contain water mixed with vinegar, baking soda, or iodine.
(Douche, NCI Dictionary)
An article intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on or introduced into or otherwise applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness or altering the appearance.
(Cosmetic, NCI Thesaurus/BRIDG)
But of Leach’s behaviour—By the time I had finished cleansing the cabin he had taken care of Johnson.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
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