clean

Pronunciation: /kliːn/

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Definition of clean

adjective

1free from dirt, marks, or stains:the room was spotlessly clean keep the wound clean
having been washed since last worn or used:a clean blouse
[attributive] (of paper) not yet marked by writing or drawing:he copied the advert on to a clean sheet of paper
(of a person) attentive to personal hygiene:by nature he was clean and neat
free from pollutants or unpleasant substances:we will create a cleaner, safer environment
free from or producing relatively little radioactive contamination.
(of timber) free from knots:the forester and the sawyer reject timber that is not straight and clean

2morally uncontaminated; pure; innocent:clean living
not sexually offensive or obscene:it’s all good clean fun
showing or having no record of offences or crimes:a clean driving licence is essential for the job
played or done according to the rules:we are not completely sure that the elections will be clean and fair
[predic.] informal not possessing or containing anything illegal, especially drugs or stolen goods:I searched him and his luggage, and he was clean
[predic.] informal (of a person) not taking or having taken drugs or alcohol: I had been here for only a fortnight and clean for three weeks
free from ceremonial defilement, according to Mosaic Law or other religious codes.

3free from irregularities; having a smooth edge or surface:a clean fracture of the leg
having a simple, well-defined, and pleasing shape:the clean lines and pared-down planes of modernism
(of an action) smoothly and skilfully done:he took a clean catch

4(of a taste, sound, or smell) giving a clear and distinctive impression to the senses; sharp and fresh:clean, fresh, natural flavours

adverb

1so as to be free from dirt, marks, or unwanted matter:the room had been washed clean

2 informal used to emphasize the completeness of a reported action, condition, or experience:he was knocked clean off his feet I clean forgot her birthday

verb

[with object]

make clean; remove dirt, marks, or stains from:clean your teeth properly after meals I cleaned up my room (as noun cleaning)Anne will help with the cleaning
remove the innards of (fish or poultry) prior to cooking: there are a variety of ways to cook the herring, but it must first be gutted and cleaned

noun

[in singular]

an act of cleaning something:he gave the room a clean

Phrases

(as) clean as a whistle: see whistle.
clean and jerk: a weightlifting exercise in which a weight is raised above the head following an initial lift to shoulder level.
clean bill of health: see bill of health.
clean someone's clock: give someone a beating: I assured her that if anything happened I would personally clean the Russian’s clock; defeat or surpass someone decisively: racing in this yacht he cleaned the clocks of the Regatta fleet
clean house: do housework: they cleaned house, washed clothes, and cared for the children; eliminate corruption or inefficiency: the president acted quickly to clean house when the allegations were made
clean one's plate: eat up all the food put on one’s plate.
a clean sheet (or slate): an absence of existing restraints or commitments:no government starts with a clean sheet; (keep a clean sheet) (in a football match) prevent the opposing side from scoring: Scotland kept a clean sheet against the Welsh
clean up one's act: informal begin to behave in a better way, especially by giving up alcohol, drugs, or illegal activities: he planned to clean up his act, but in a last celebration bought some coke and heroin
come clean: informal be completely honest; keep nothing hidden:the Chancellor must come clean about his plans for increasing taxation
have clean hands: be uninvolved and blameless with regard to an immoral act:no one involved in the conflict has clean hands
keep one's hands clean: not involve oneself in an immoral act: Franco kept his own hands clean by using others to impose his will
keep one's nose clean: see nose.
make a clean breast of it: confess fully one’s mistakes or wrongdoings.
make a clean job of something: informal do something thoroughly.
make a clean sweep

Phrasal Verbs

clean someone out: informal use up or take all someone’s money:they were cleaned out by the Englishman at the baccarat table
clean something out: thoroughly clean the inside of something:my mom says I have to go and clean out the hamster 's cage
clean up: make a substantial gain or profit: Francis put three quid on a horse, figuring it was about time he cleaned up; win all the prizes available in a sporting competition: the Germans cleaned up at Wimbledon
clean something up: restore order or morality to:the police chief was given the job of cleaning up a notorious district

Derivatives

cleanable
cleanish
cleanness

Origin:

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

clean in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of clean in the US English dictionary

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Other

clean

adjective

adverb

verb

noun

Phrases

(as) clean as a whistle

clean and jerk

clean bill of health

clean someone's clock

clean house

clean one's plate

a clean sheet (or slate)

clean up one's act

come clean

have clean hands

keep one's hands clean

keep one's nose clean

make a clean breast of it

make a clean job of something

make a clean sweep

Phrasal Verbs

clean someone out

clean something out

clean up

clean something up

Derivatives

cleanable

cleanish

cleanness

Origin:

clean in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

More results for clean

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