ab·lu·tion (?-blo?o?sh?n, ?-blo?o?-)n.1. A washing or cleansing of the body, especially as part of a religious rite.2. The liquid so used.[Middle English ablucioun, from Latin abl?ti?, abl?ti?n-, from abl?tus, past participle of abluere, to wash away : ab-, away; see ab-1 + -luere, to wash; see leu(?)- in Indo-European roots.]ab·lu?tion·ar?y (-sh?-n?r??) adj.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.