1. To inflict pain upon, by means of stripes, or in any other manner, for the purpose of punishment or reformation; to punish.
2. To reduce to order or obedience; to correct or purify; to free from faults or excesses.
Alternate (chiefly British) spelling of

ETYM Colloq. or Slang.
To impose a penalty on; inflict punishment on; SYN. penalize.

1. To attenuate or reduce in vigor, strength, or validity by polishing or purifying
2. To make more precise or increase the discriminatory powers of
3. To reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; separate from extraneous matter or cleanse from impurities
4. To treat or prepare so as to put in a usable condition