• Dictionary
  • List of exercises
  • Exercises by level

Meaning of clean in English

  1. Pronunciation

    /klin/

    US accent Play buttonYour browser does not support the audio element.

    How to pronounce clean in American English, in context ▾
    Use the controls below Controls button to browse different examples of pronunciation.

    UK accent Play buttonYour browser does not support the audio element.

    How to pronounce clean in British English, in context ▾
    Use the controls below Controls button to browse different examples of pronunciation.
  1. Verb

    clean

    Definitions

    1. make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from

    Examples

    • « Clean the stove! »
    • « The dentist cleaned my teeth »

    Antonyms

    • dirty
    • soil
    • begrime
    • grime
    • colly
    • bemire
  2. 2. remove unwanted substances from, such as feathers or pits

    Examples

    • « Clean the turkey »
  3. 3. clean and tidy up the house

    Examples

    • « She housecleans every week »
  4. 4. clean one's body or parts thereof, as by washing

    Examples

    • « clean up before you see your grandparents »
    • « clean your fingernails before dinner »
  5. 5. be cleanable

    Examples

    • « This stove cleans easily »
  6. 6. deprive wholly of money in a gambling game, robbery, etc.

    Examples

    • « The other players cleaned him completely »
  7. 7. remove all contents or possession from, or empty completely

    Examples

    • « The boys cleaned the sandwich platters »
    • « The trees were cleaned of apples by the storm »
  8. 8. remove while making clean

    Examples

    • « Clean the spots off the rug »
  9. 9. remove unwanted substances from
  10. 10. remove shells or husks from

    Examples

    • « clean grain before milling it »
  11. Classifying Adjective

    clean

    Definitions

    1. free of restrictions or qualifications

    Examples

    • « a clean bill of health »
    • « a clear winner »

    Synonyms

    • unqualified
  12. 2. (of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims

    Examples

    • « efforts to obtain a clean bass in orchestral recordings »
    • « clear laughter like a waterfall »
    • « clear reds and blues »
    • « a light lilting voice like a silver bell »

    Synonyms

    • pure
  13. 3. free from impurities

    Examples

    • « clean water »
    • « fresh air »

    Synonyms

    • pure
  14. 4. without difficulties or problems

    Examples

    • « a clean test flight »

    Synonyms

    • perfect
  15. 5. free from sepsis or infection

    Examples

    • « a clean (or uninfected) wound »

    Synonyms

    • antiseptic
  16. 6. morally pure

    Examples

    • « led a clean life »

    Synonyms

    • moral
  17. 7. (of a manuscript) having few alterations or corrections

    Examples

    • « fair copy »
    • « a clean manuscript »

    Synonyms

    • legible
  18. 8. of a surface

    Examples

    • « not written or printed on »
    • « blank pages »
    • « fill in the blank spaces »
    • « a clean page »
    • « wide white margins »

    Synonyms

    • empty
  19. 9. marked by or calling for sportsmanship or fair play

    Examples

    • « a clean fight »
    • « a sporting solution of the disagreement »
    • « sportsmanlike conduct »

    Synonyms

    • fair
    • just
  20. 10. thorough and without qualification

    Examples

    • « a clean getaway »
    • « a clean sweep »
    • « a clean break »

    Synonyms

    • complete
  21. 11. (of a record) having no marks of discredit or offense

    Examples

    • « a clean voting recor »
    • « a clean driver's license »

    Synonyms

    • unblemished
  22. 12. not carrying concealed weapons

    Synonyms

    • unarmed
  23. 13. free from clumsiness

    Examples

    • « precisely or deftly executed »
    • « he landed a clean left on his opponent's cheek »
    • « a clean throw »
    • « the neat exactness of the surgeon's knife »

    Synonyms

    • adroit
  24. 14. free of drugs

    Examples

    • « after a long dependency on heroin she has been clean for 4 years »

    Synonyms

    • unaddicted
  25. Adverb

    clean

    Definitions

    1. completely

    Examples

    • « used as intensifiers »
    • « clean forgot the appointment »
    • « I'm plumb (or plum) tuckered out »
  26. 2. in conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or cheating

    Examples

    • « they played fairly »

    Antonyms

    • unfairly
    • below the belt
  27. Noun

    clean

    Definitions

    1. a weightlift in which the barbell is lifted to shoulder height and then jerked overhead
  28. Qualitative Adjective

    clean

    Etymology

    Old English clǣne, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German klein‘small’

    Definitions

    1. free from dirt or impurities

    Examples

    • « or having clean habits »
    • « children with clean shining faces »
    • « clean white shirts »
    • « clean dishes »
    • « a spotlessly clean house »
    • « cats are clean animals »

    Synonyms

    • cleanable
    • cleaned
    • cleansed
    • cleanly
    • dry-cleaned
    • fresh
    • unused
    • immaculate
    • speckless
    • spick-and-span
    • spic-and-span
    • spic
    • spick
    • spotless
    • pristine
    • unsoiled
    • unspotted
    • unstained
    • unsullied
    • washed
    • water-washed
    • scrubbed

    Antonyms

    • dirty
    • soiled
    • unclean
  29. 2. ritually clean or pure

    Synonyms

    • halal
    • kosher
    • cosher

    Antonyms

    • unclean
    • impure
  30. 3. not spreading pollution or contamination

    Examples

    • « especially radioactive contamination »
    • « a clean fuel »
    • « cleaner and more efficient engines »
    • « the tactical bomb is reasonably clean »

    Antonyms

    • dirty
    • contaminating
  31. 4. (of behavior or especially language) free from objectionable elements

    Examples

    • « fit for all observers »
    • « good clean fun »
    • « a clean joke »

    Synonyms

    • antiseptic

    Antonyms

    • dirty

See also

  • decent

Navigation

    Books Teacher Resources About Contact

Lessons

    Beginner Intermediate Advanced
© 2021, NAGEL PTY LTD 🇦🇺 • Terms • Privacy