cleanse

clean, cleanse

这两个单词的拼写非常相近，且都包含动词"净"的意思。
clean: 意思是“使洁净”、“把...去垢”（to make clean by washing，dusting，sweeping or brushing）。如：to clean a dress，room，hand，shoe，watch等。

• please clean your shoes.
  请把鞋刷干净。
• he cleaned the floor with water.
  他用水冲洗地板。
• i have got my watch cleaned in a watch-shop.
  我的表已在一家钟表店清洁过了。

cleanse: 意思是“清洗干净”，“使...纯洁”（to make thoroughly clean or make pure）。为此，cleanse含有“彻底洗清”之意味，语义比clean强得多。clean和cleanse的另一区别是前者为一般用语；后者是正式的（formal）或古旧的用语，有时它还能用于比喻意义，例如to cleanse one's soul洗涤心灵；to cleanse the heart of sin 洗心革面；ethnic cleansing 种族清洗/灭绝。

• we have cleansed the garden of weeds.
  我们已把花园里的杂草清除干净。
• she bought some detergent and antiseptic from a dyeing and cleansing store.
  她从一家洗染商店买了洗洁精和消毒剂。
• you must cleanse your heart and soul.
  你必须洗心革面，重新做人。
• cleansed of guilt by atonement，he felt light of heart again.
  通过赎罪的方式洗清他的罪行后，他的心变得再次安乐。
• that tribe is facing ethnic cleansing．
  那部落正面临种族灭绝的厄运。

动词 cleanse:

1. clean one's body or parts thereof, as by washing
   同义词：clean
2. purge of an ideology, bad thoughts, or sins

1. Tending to cleanse or purge.
   愿意净化或洗涤的
2. May God cleanse my wickedness.
   愿上帝洗净我的邪恶。
3. The nurse cleansed the wound before stitching it.
   护士在缝合伤口前先清洁一下伤口。

cleanse

v.tr.（及物动词）
cleansed,cleans.ing,cleans.es
To free from dirt, defilement, or guilt; purge or clean.
使清洁，清洗：使免除灰尘、玷污或罪责；洗净或清除

来源：
Middle English clensen
中古英语 clensen
from Old English clônsian
源自 古英语 clônsian
from clône [pure, clean]
源自 克莱恩 [纯净的，干净的]