1. The act of making something clean
   "The annual spring cleansing of the house was a family tradition";
   - cleaning, cleanup, clean

1. Cleaning the body by washing
   "cleansing rituals";
   - ablutionary
    
2. Acting like an antiseptic
   "The cleansing properties of the solution helped prevent infection";
   - purifying

1. Clean one's body or parts thereof, as by washing
   "She cleansed her face before applying makeup";
   - clean
    
2. Purge of an ideology, bad thoughts, or sins
   "Purgatory is supposed to cleanse you from your sins"

Derived forms: cleansings

See also: antiseptic, purifying

Type of: disembarrass, free, groom, improvement, neaten, rid

Encyclopedia: Cleansing