Definition

1. Noun:

   • A sudden or forced removal of people from an organization or place: A "purge" often refers to the act of removing people considered undesirable, especially from a political party or government.
   • The act of cleansing or ridding something of unwanted elements: This can refer to a physical cleaning or an abstract process of removing impurities or guilt.
   • A substance that causes emptying of the bowels: In medicine, a "purge" is a laxative or the act of taking one.

2. Verb:

   • To remove people suddenly or forcibly from an organization: This is often used in political contexts.
   • To rid something of unwanted elements or impurities: This involves cleansing physically or abstractly.
   • To empty the contents of the bowels or stomach: This is a medical or informal use, meaning to cause vomiting or evacuation.
   • To free from sin, guilt, or a charge: This involves clearing someone of blame or moral impurity.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The political purge removed many officials from power.
  • After the scandal, the company began a purge of corrupt managers.
  • The doctor recommended a herbal purge.

• Verb:

  • The leader purged his rivals from the party.
  • We need to purge the data of duplicate entries.
  • She purged her system by drinking plenty of water.
  • The court's ruling purged him of all charges.

Advanced Usage

• "to purge oneself of": to free oneself from something negative, like guilt or suspicion.
  • He tried to purge himself of his past mistakes.
• "a purge on": a concerted effort to remove something.
  • The government launched a purge on illegal substances.

Variants and Related Words

• Purgation (n): The process of purging, especially in a physical or ceremonial sense.
  • The ritual involved spiritual purgation.
• Purgative (n/adj): (A substance) causing evacuation of the bowels.
  • The medicine had a strong purgative effect.
• Purgatory (n): In some religions, a place or state for spiritual cleansing. (Note: This is a related but distinct concept).

Synonyms

• Noun: Cleansing, expulsion, removal, elimination.
• Verb: Cleanse, purify, expel, remove, eliminate, eradicate.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

• Purge something from something: To remove something unwanted from a place or group.
  • They vowed to purge corruption from the government.
• Purge someone of something: To clear someone of something, like guilt.
  • The ceremony purged the community of its fears.

Related Idioms

• "A purge of the ranks": An idiom describing the removal of unwanted members from an organization, especially a military or political one.
  • The new general ordered a purge of the ranks to improve discipline.

Noun

1. an abrupt or sudden removal of a person or group from an organization or place
   • he died in a purge by Stalin
2. an act of removing by cleansing; ridding of sediment or other undesired elements
3. the act of clearing yourself (or another) from some stigma or charge

Verb

1. excrete or evacuate (someone's bowels or body)
   • The doctor decided that the patient must be purged
2. eject the contents of the stomach through the mouth
   • After drinking too much, the students vomited
   • He purged continuously
   • The patient regurgitated the food we gave him last night
3. rinse, clean, or empty with a liquid
   • flush the wound with antibiotics
   • purge the old gas tank
4. rid of impurities
   • purge the water
   • purge your mind
5. make pure or free from sin or guilt
   • he left the monastery purified
6. clear of a charge
7. oust politically
   • Deng Xiao Ping was purged several times throughout his lifetime