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The act of deterging or cleansing, as a sore.

Cleansing; detergent. -- n.

In a way to cleanse.

The quality of cleansing.

The process of cleaning or brightening sheet metal or metalware, esp. brass, by dipping it in acids, etc.

ance, as excrement, mud, dust, etc.; whatever, adhering to anything, renders it foul or unclean; earth; as, a wagonload of dirt. Whose waters cast up mire and dirt. Is. lvii. 20.

Defiled with dirt; foul; nasty; filthy; not clean or pure; serving to defile; as, dirty hands; dirty water; a dirty white. Spenser.

To rid; to free. [Obs.] I had clean dispatched myself of this great charge. Udall.

to lift a vessel out of water. -- Graving dock, a dock for holding a ship for graving or cleaning the bottom, etc. -- Hydraulic dock, a dock in which a vessel is raised clear of the water by hydraulic presses. -- Naval dock, a dock connected with which are naval stores, materials, and all conveniences for the constr…

hor, floating anchor, etc. -- Drag twist (Mining), a spiral hook at the end of a rod for cleaning drilled holes.

as, to draw a fowl; to hang, draw, and quarter a criminal. In private draw your poultry, clean your tripe. King.

a lamp; to dress a garden; to dress a horse, by currying and rubbing; to dress grain, by cleansing it; in mining and metallurgy, to dress ores, by sorting and separating them.

separated from the better part; leavings; dregs; refuse. All world's glory is but dross unclean. Spenser. At the devil's booth are all things sold, Each ounce of dross coats its ounce of gold. Lowell.

To rub and cleanse without wetting. Dodsley.

, as a powder which is separated from heavier particles by being drawn off with water; to cleanse, as by washing.

Emulation; rivalry. [Obs.] Such as cleanliness and decency Prompt to a virtuous envy. Ford.

To purify; to clear from anything noxious, offensive, or erroneous; to cleanse; to purge; as, to expurgate a book.

The act of expurgating, purging, or cleansing; purification from anything noxious, offensive, sinful, or erroneous. Milton.

Serving to purify from anything noxious or erroneous; cleansing; purifying. "Expurgatory animadversions." Sir T. Browne. Expurgatory Index. See Index Expurgatorius, under Index.

Free from spots, specks, dirt, or imperfection; unblemished; clean; pure. A fair white linen cloth. Book of Common Prayer.