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clean definition

clean (klēn)

adjective

    1. free from dirt, contamination, impurities, etc.; unsoiled; unstained
    2. free from disease, infection, radioactivity, etc.
  2. ☆ producing little immediate fallout: said of nuclear weapons
  3. producing few or no pollutants; non-polluting clean energy
  4. recently laundered; fresh and unused
    1. morally pure; sinless
    2. not obscene or indecent a clean joke
  6. fair; sportsmanlike a rough but clean contest
  7. keeping oneself or one's surroundings clean; neat and tidy
    1. shapely; well-formed a clean profile
    2. trim; not ornate clean architectural lines
  9. skillful; deft a clean stroke
  10. having no obstructions, flaws, or roughnesses; clear; regular a clean drain
  11. entire; complete; thorough a clean sweep
  12. having few corrections; legible clean copy for the printer
  13. with nothing in it or on it clean pockets, a clean sheet of paper
  14. ☆ Slang
    1. not carrying a weapon, illegal drugs, etc.
    2. innocent of an alleged crime
    3. free from the use or presence of or from addiction to narcotics or other illicit drugs
  15. Bible
    1. free from ceremonial defilement
    2. fit for food: said of certain animals

Etymology: ME clene < OE clæne, clean, pure < IE *ĝ(e)lēi- < base *ĝel-, to gleam > OIr gel, gleaming, white, OHG kleini, gleaming, bright, fine (> Ger klein, small)

adverb

  1. in a clean manner
  2. Informal completely; wholly clean forgotten

Etymology: OE clæne

transitive verb

  1. to make clean
  2. to remove (dirt, impurities, etc.) in making clean
  3. to empty or clear
  4. to prepare (fish, fowl, etc.) for cooking
  5. ☆ Slang to take away or use up the money or possessions of: often with out
  6. Weight Lifting to lift (a barbell) from the floor to the shoulders in one continuous movement

intransitive verb

  1. to be made clean
  2. to perform the act of cleaning

Related Forms:

clean Idioms

clean out

  1. to empty so as to make clean
  2. to empty

clean up

  1. to make clean, neat, or orderly
  2. to make oneself clean and neat; get washed, combed, etc.
  3. Informal to dispose of completely; finish
  4. ☆ Slang to make much money or profit

clean up on

☆
Slang to defeat; beat

come clean

☆
Slang to confess; tell the truth

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms clean idiom

clean Synonyms

clean

modif.

  1. Not soiled

    spotless, washed, stainless, laundered, immaculate, unsoiled, untarnished, speckless, unstained, neat, tidy, clear, blank, white, dirtless, unblemished, unspotted, newly cleaned, cleaned, fresh, unused, snowy, well-kept, dustless, unsmirched, cleansed, scrubbed, sanitary, antiseptic, unsullied, spick-and-span, clean as a whistle*, squeaky-clean*.

    Antonyms soiled, dirty*, stained.

  2. Not contaminated

    unadulterated, wholesome; see pure 2, sanitary.

  3. Neat

    orderly, tidy, regular; see neat 1.

  4. Having sharp outlines

    clear-cut, sharp, distinct; see definite 2.

  5. Legible; having few errors

    clear, plain, distinct, readable, precise, correct; see also accurate 1.

    Antonyms illegible*, confusing*, vague. *

  6. Sinless

    pure, wholesome, unsullied, virtuous; see innocent 1, 4.

  7. Thorough

    complete, entire, total; see absolute 1.

  8. Fair

    reliable, decent, lawful, sportsmanlike; see decent 2, fair 1, honest 1.

  9. Well-proportioned

    streamlined, shapely, graceful, spare; see trim 2.

  10. Not obscene or indecent

    inoffensive, decorous, wholesome, G-rated*; see chaste 2, decent 2.

  11. Free from radioactivity

    decontaminated, not dangerous, checked.

come clean*

confess, tell the truth, own up*; see admit 2.


clean

v.

cleanse, clean up, clean out, clear up, clear out, wash, wash up, scrub, scrub off, soak, disinfect, tidy, tidy up, neaten, straighten up, shake out, purify, decontaminate, sanitize, deodorize, purge, expurgate, swab, polish, sterilize, scrape, sweep, scour, launder, dry-clean, vacuum, scald, dust, mop, cauterize, rinse, sponge, brush, dress, comb, dredge, pick, blow, whisk, wipe, wipe up, clarify, elutriate, winnow, rake, clean away, lave, bathe, expunge, soap, hose down, rasp, erase, shampoo, refine, flush, depurate, deterge, blot, hackle, leach, lixiviate, rub off, sandblast, freshen, put in order, bleach, spruce up, do up*, slick up*, clear the decks*, police up*; see also purify, wash 1. 2.

Antonyms dirty*, soil*, smear*, mess up.

clean, the broader term, denotes generally the removal of dirt, impurities, or extraneous matter, as by washing or brushing; cleanse suggests more specifically the removal of impurities, as by the use of chemicals, and is often used metaphorically to imply purification to cleanse one's mind of evil thoughts


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

clean Usage Examples

Object

  • carpet: We can guarantee that: Nobody can clean carpets, curtains or upholstery cleaner If a stain can be removed we will remove it.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • wipe: Urban Legend was going to wipe the slate clean by actually being all that was claimed of it.

Modifies a noun

  • sheet: In their application, Greene King have focussed on a clean sheet on crime at the pub in the past 12 months.

Used with adjective complement

  • wipe: This specialized fabric will not stain and can be wiped clean with any domestic detergent.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • up: Clean up using wet methods or an industrial vacuum cleaner.

Followed by a transitive particle

  • up: Helped a friend clean up a house they were moving into.

Particle object: out_obj

  • hutch: You may never need to remove it, not even for cleaning out the hutch.

Particle object: up_obj

  • mess: Milosevic's successors will have a hard time cleaning up the mess he left.

Preposition: with

  • antiseptic: Your skin will be cleaned with antiseptic, and then most of the rest of your body covered with a theater towel.
clean usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

clean quotes

Do not ask me for charity now: Go away until your bones are clean.

-Adcock, (Karen) Fleur

   First time he kissed me, but only kissed The fingers of this hand wherewith I write, And ever since it grew more clean and white†

-Browning, Elizabeth ne¤  e Barrett

Bath twice a day to be really clean, once a day to be passably clean, once a week to avoid being a public menace.

-Wilson

clean quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
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clean. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/clean

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