pure
/pjʊə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /pjʊr/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈpyu̇r/ (ame, mw)
pure — adjective
- purepositive
- purercomparative
- purestsuperlative
1. A pure substance contains only one material and has nothing else added — for ins
A pure substance contains only one material and has nothing else added — for instance, pure gold is made of the element gold and no other metal.
This necklace is made of pure gold, so it is worth a lot of money.
collocation: pure gold / pure silver / pure cotton
Madison only buys shirts that are labelled 100 percent pure cotton.
The ring was pure silver, with no other metal mixed in.
Scientists tested the white powder and confirmed it was a pure substance.
Pure silk feels much softer against the skin than fake materials.
- unadulterated
more formal; used for food or substances that have not been weakened by added ingredients
- 100%
informal substitute; '100% cotton' means the same as 'pure cotton'
文法句型
pure + noun (pure gold, pure silk)
be + pure
用法筆記
Most common with materials that are sold at different quality levels (gold, silver, cotton, silk, wool). Distinguished from sense 4 (CLEAN) — this sense is about composition, not cleanliness.
常見錯誤
2. A colour described as pure exists as a single, unmixed shade — no other colour h
A colour described as pure exists as a single, unmixed shade — no other colour has been added to lighten or dull it.
The artist mixed the paints until she achieved a pure shade of blue.
collocation: pure shade / pure colour
Yara chose pure white for the walls because it makes the room look bigger.
In the sunset the sky turned a pure orange that seemed to glow.
The national flag uses three pure colours: red, white, and blue.
文法句型
pure + colour noun (pure red, pure blue)
pure + colour adjective (pure white)
3. When a sound is pure, it comes through as clear and steady, without any scratchi
When a sound is pure, it comes through as clear and steady, without any scratchiness, humming, or roughness.
The singer's voice was so pure that the audience held their breath.
collocation: pure voice / pure tone / pure sound
Andrés tuned the guitar until each note rang out pure and clear.
The recording captures the pure sound of the piano with no background hiss.
A pure tone from the bell marked the start of the ceremony.
Hearing a pure bird song after the storm made everyone smile.
- clear
more general; 'a clear voice' is easy to hear but may not be perfectly steady
- crystal-clear
emphatic; 'a crystal-clear note' is extremely pure
文法句型
pure + sound noun (pure tone, pure voice)
be + pure
用法筆記
Commonly describes voices, musical notes, and natural sounds. Opposite sense: a sound that is 'rough,' 'harsh,' or 'distorted'.
常見錯誤
4. Not containing any dirt, pollution, or harmful substances; clean enough to be sa
Not containing any dirt, pollution, or harmful substances; clean enough to be safe.
Faisal fills his bottle with pure water from the mountain spring.
collocation: pure water / pure air
The hotel installed filters so guests could breathe pure air in their rooms.
After the cleanup the river finally ran pure again.
Élise bought a purifier to keep the air in the nursery pure.
- polluted
containing harmful substances
- contaminated
made impure by contact with something dirty or poisonous
文法句型
pure + noun (pure water, pure air)
be + pure
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (NOT MIXED) — this sense focuses on cleanliness and safety rather than composition. 'Pure water' in sense 4 means it is safe to drink; in sense 1 it would mean it is H₂O with nothing added.
常見錯誤
5. Used before an abstract noun to emphasise that something is exactly that quality
Used before an abstract noun to emphasise that something is exactly that quality and nothing else — for example, 'pure luck' means it was only luck that made something happen, not skill or planning.
It was pure luck that Hugo found his lost wallet on the street.
collocation: pure luck / pure chance / pure coincidence
Their meeting at the airport was pure coincidence, not something they planned.
The look on the child's face was pure joy when she saw the puppy.
What Jisoo heard was pure nonsense — none of the story was true.
文法句型
pure + abstract noun (pure luck, pure coincidence)
用法筆記
Only used before abstract nouns (luck, coincidence, joy, nonsense, bliss). Never used before concrete nouns in this sense. Compare with sense 7 — sense 7 is predicative ('it was pure bliss') while this sense is attributive ('pure bliss' used directly before the noun).
常見錯誤
6. Refers to an academic field where the aim is to build knowledge and theoretical
Refers to an academic field where the aim is to build knowledge and theoretical understanding, not to create practical or commercial applications.
Olivia studied pure mathematics at university, focusing on number theory.
collocation: pure mathematics / pure science / pure physics
Professor Okafor's research is in pure physics, with no engineering application yet.
Pure chemistry explores the basic rules of how atoms and molecules behave.
Apinya's degree is in pure science, not in medicine or engineering.
- theoretical
broader; 'theoretical physics' can mean purely abstract or not yet tested
- abstract
focuses on ideas rather than physical objects; 'abstract mathematics'
文法句型
pure + academic field (pure mathematics, pure science)
用法筆記
Opposite of 'applied.' The term is most common in 'pure mathematics,' 'pure science,' and 'pure research.' Often used by universities to distinguish academic departments.
7. Positioned after a noun or the linking verb 'to be' to stress that a particular
Positioned after a noun or the linking verb 'to be' to stress that a particular feeling or experience is wholly that thing, with no other element mixed in.
Lying in the hammock with a book and fresh mangoes was pure bliss.
predicative use: 'be + pure + abstract noun'
The whole weekend at the beach was pure magic for the children.
When Sana heard the news, her reaction was pure disbelief.
That dark chocolate cake is pure heaven — rich, creamy, and sweet.
文法句型
be + pure + abstract noun (it was pure bliss)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 5 (COMPLETE) — sense 5 goes before the noun ('pure luck'), while this sense follows the verb 'to be' and the noun that is being described ('it was pure bliss'). The two senses overlap in some uses ('pure joy' can be attributive or predicative), but this sense adds a stronger 'nothing else' flavour.
8. Living or behaving according to high moral standards, especially by avoiding sex
Living or behaving according to high moral standards, especially by avoiding sexual thoughts or acts that are considered wrong.
The monk spoke about the importance of keeping one's thoughts pure.
collocation: pure thoughts / pure heart / pure mind
Adina was raised to believe that a person should lead a pure life.
In the old story the knight had a pure heart and noble intentions.
Zuri's grandmother taught her that pure love means caring without selfishness.
文法句型
pure + noun (pure thoughts, pure heart)
pure in + noun (pure in heart)
用法筆記
Often carries religious or traditional overtones. 'Pure in heart' is a set phrase from religious texts. In modern everyday conversation, this sense can sound old-fashioned; 'innocent' or 'decent' are more neutral alternatives.