purger

to purge, to drain

verb pür-ZHEH Rare

Origin: Latin purgare

Also means

to serve (a sentence)

Usage Note

purger covers technical senses (draining air from pipes or radiators — purger un radiateur) and legal/administrative ones — purger une peine means 'to serve a sentence'. Historically it referred to medical purging. The noun purge can mean a political purge as well as a technical drainage.

Examples

"Il faut purger les radiateurs avant l'hiver."

Natural Translation

The radiators must be drained before winter.

Literal Translation

It is necessary to purge the radiators before winter.

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