tīrīt

From the same stem as tīrs (“clean”) (q.v.), of which it was originally the causative form (cf. its Lithuanian cognate týrinti (“to make clear, clean”)).[1]

tīrīt (tr., 3rd conj., pres. tīru, tīri, tīra, past tīrīju)

1. to clean (to make something clean, cleaner, e.g.,by scrubbing or washing it)

   tīrīt apģērbus, zābakus ― to clean one's clothes, boots

   ķīmiski tīrīt mēteli ― to dry-clean the coat (lit. to clean it chemically)

   tīrīt dzīvokli ― to clean the apartment

   tīrīt zobus ― to clean (one's) teeth

   tīrīt ielu no sniega ― to clean the street from snow

   ūdens strūkla tīra ietves ― the water spray cleans the sidewalks

   man gan vienmēr paticis tīrīt, kārtot, mazgāt... ja man būtu bijis laiks! ― I always liked to clean, to tidy up, to wash... if only I had had time!

2. to clean (to remove something undesirable, e.g. dirt, stains, etc., from something else)

   tīrīt putekļus ― to clean the dust

   tīrīt gružus no celiņa ― to clean the debris from the roadway

   sieviete apstājās netālu no durvīm un sāka tīrīt no drēbēm sniegu ― the woman stood near the door and began to clean the snow from her clothes

3. to clean (to separate unnecessary parts, elements from something, in order to prepare it for use, or for further processing)

   tīrīt zivis, saknes ― to clean fish, roots

   tīrīt zvīņas (no zivju) ― to clean the scales (from fish)

   tīrīt sēnes ― to clean the mushrooms

   tīrīt graudu sēklas ― to clean the grain seeds

4. to clean (to free a territory, an organization, etc. from undesirable people)

   bet tur mežā nebūt nav mazāk bīstami: vācieši kopā ar šucmaņiem laiku pa laikam tīra mežus ― but there in the forest it would not be less dangerous: the Germans and their policemen occasionally cleaned the forests

5. (colloquial) to clean, to steal

prefixed verbs:

other derived terms:

• tīrītājs, tīrītāja
• tīrītava

• tīrība
• tīrīgs, tīrīgums
• tīrs
• tīrums