clean
clean
(klēn) adjective
cleaner
, cleanest
1.
Free from dirt, stain, or impurities; unsoiled.
2.
a. Free from foreign matter or pollution; unadulterated: clean air; clean drinking water. b. Not infected: a clean wound.
3. a. Producing relatively little pollution: a clean fuel; a cleaner, more efficient engine. b. Producing relatively little radioactive fallout or contamination: a clean nuclear bomb.
4. Having no imperfections or blemishes; regular: a clean, straight line.
5. Free from clumsiness; deft; adroit: a clean throw.
6. Devoid of restrictions or encumbrances: a clean bill of health.
7. Thorough; complete: a clean getaway.
8. Having few alterations or corrections; legible: clean manuscript.
9. Blank: a clean page.
10. a. Morally pure; virtuous: led a clean life. b. Having no marks of discredit or offense: a clean voting record.
11. Fit for all readers, listeners, or audiences; not ribald or obscene: a clean joke.
12. Honest or fair: a clean fighter; a clean competition.
13. Slang. a. Not carrying concealed weapons or drugs. b. Free from narcotics addiction. c. Innocent of a suspected crime.
adverb
cleaner, cleanest
1.
So as to be unsoiled: wash the dishes clean.
2.
In a fair manner: played the game clean.
3.
In a clean or nonpolluting manner: a fuel that burns clean.
4.
Informal. Entirely; wholly: clean forgot the appointment.
verb
cleaned, cleaning, cleans
verb
, transitive
1.
To rid of dirt, rubbish, or impurities: clean a room; clean a suit.
2.
To get rid of (impurities or dirt, for example); remove: cleaned up the trash; cleaned off the stains.
3.
To prepare (fowl or other food) for cooking, as by removing the entrails or fat.
4.
To remove the contents from; empty: cleaned my plate.
verb
, intransitive
To undergo or perform an act of cleaning.
phrasal verb.
clean out
1.
To rid of dirt, rubbish, or impurities.
2.
To empty of contents or occupants.
3.
Informal. To drive or force out: cleaned out the incompetent workers.
4. Slang. To deprive completely of money or material wealth: The robbery cleaned us out.
clean up
1.
To make clean or orderly.
2.
To make oneself clean, neat, or presentable.
3.
To dispose of; settle: cleaned up the unpaid bills.
4.
Slang. To make a large profit, often in a short period of time: cleaned up during the bull market.
idiom.
clean house Slang
To eliminate or discard what is undesirable: The scandal forced the company to clean house.
[Middle English clene, from Old English clǣne.]
clean
ʹable adjective
clean
ʹness noun
Synonyms:
clean, antiseptic, cleanly, immaculate, spotless. The central meaning shared by these adjectives is "free from dirt": clean clothing; antiseptic surgical instruments; cats, cleanly animals; an immaculate tablecloth; spotless gloves.
Antonyms:
dirty.