Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Free from dirt, marks, or unwanted matter: Describing something that is not dirty or contaminated.
   • Morally pure; not guilty of wrongdoing: Describing a person, life, or record that is free from dishonesty or corruption.
   • Precise and neat; without irregularities: Describing an action, shape, or line that is smooth, even, or well-executed.
   • Free from restrictions, problems, or negative elements: Describing a situation, process, or outcome that is straightforward and without complications.

2. Verb:

   • To make something free from dirt, marks, or unwanted matter: The act of removing dirt or impurities from an object or surface.
   • To remove the internal organs or unwanted parts from something: The act of preparing something, like food, by removing inedible parts.

3. Adverb:

   • Completely; entirely: Used for emphasis to mean 'totally' or 'thoroughly'.
   • In a fair and honest manner; according to the rules: Describing an action performed without cheating.

4. Noun:

   • An act of cleaning: The process of making something clean.
   • A type of weightlifting movement: A lift where a barbell is brought to the shoulders in one motion.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • Please put on a clean shirt.
  • He has a clean driving record with no accidents.
  • The surgeon made a clean incision.
  • The software installation was a clean process with no errors.

• Verb:

  • She will clean the kitchen every Saturday.
  • You need to clean the fish before cooking it.

• Adverb:

  • I clean forgot about our meeting.
  • All athletes must play clean and follow the rules.

• Noun:

  • This room could use a good clean.
  • He struggled with the clean portion of the weightlifting competition.

Advanced Usage

• "To come clean": To confess or admit the truth about something one has been hiding.

  • After weeks of suspicion, he finally came clean about his mistake.

• "A clean slate": A fresh start where past mistakes or issues are forgotten or erased.

  • Leaving the old job gave her a clean slate to build a new career.

• "Clean sweep": Winning all the prizes, contests, or seats in an election.

  • The team made a clean sweep, winning every game in the tournament.

Variants and Related Words

• Cleaner (n): A person or substance that cleans.

  • She hired a cleaner for the house.
  • Use a gentle cleaner on this surface.

• Cleaning (n): The activity or job of cleaning.

  • The weekly cleaning takes two hours.

• Cleanly (adv): In a clean manner; neatly and efficiently.

  • The arrow flew cleanly to its target.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Spotless, pure, unsullied, neat, tidy.
• Verb: Wash, scrub, purify, tidy, clear.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Clean out: To empty or tidy a space by removing unwanted items; (informal) to take all someone's money.

  • I need to clean out the garage this weekend.
  • The expensive vacation cleaned us out.

• Clean up: To make a place tidy and clean; to make a large profit.

  • The children must clean up their playroom.
  • The company cleaned up during the holiday sales.

• Clean off/up: To remove something (like dirt or marks) from a surface.

  • Can you clean these coffee stains off the table?

Related Idioms

• Clean as a whistle: Extremely clean or clear.

  • After the repair, the engine was running as clean as a whistle.

• Clean hands: To be innocent or not involved in wrongdoing.

  • The investigation proved she had clean hands in the scandal.

• Make a clean breast of it: To confess fully.

  • He decided to make a clean breast of it and tell his parents everything.

Adjective

1. free of drugs
   • after a long dependency on heroin she has been clean for 4 years
2. free from clumsiness; 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
3. not carrying concealed weapons
4. thorough and without qualification
   • a clean getaway
   • a clean sweep
   • a clean break
5. without difficulties or problems
   • a clean test flight
6. exhibiting or calling for sportsmanship or fair play
   • a clean fight
   • a sporting solution of the disagreement
   • sportsmanlike conduct
7. (of a surface) not written or printed on
   • blank pages
   • fill in the blank spaces
   • a clean page
   • wide white margins
8. (of a manuscript) having few alterations or corrections
   • fair copy
   • a clean manuscript
9. morally pure
   • led a clean life
10. free from sepsis or infection
    • a clean (or uninfected) wound
11. (of behavior or especially language) free from objectionable elements; fit for all observers
    • good clean fun
    • a clean joke
12. not spreading pollution or contamination; especially radioactive contamination
    • a clean fuel
    • cleaner and more efficient engines
    • the tactical bomb is reasonably clean
13. ritually clean or pure
14. (of a record) having no marks of discredit or offense
    • a clean voting record
    • a clean driver's license
15. free from impurities
    • clean water
    • fresh air
16. (of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims
    • 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
17. free of restrictions or qualifications
    • a clean bill of health
    • a clear winner
18. free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
    • children with clean shining faces
    • clean white shirts
    • clean dishes
    • a spotlessly clean house
    • cats are clean animals

Verb

1. remove shells or husks from
   • clean grain before milling it
2. remove unwanted substances from
3. remove while making clean
   • Clean the spots off the rug
4. remove all contents or possession from, or empty completely
   • The boys cleaned the sandwich platters
   • The trees were cleaned of apples by the storm
5. deprive wholly of money in a gambling game, robbery, etc.
   • The other players cleaned him completely
6. be cleanable
   • This stove cleans easily
7. clean one's body or parts thereof, as by washing
   • clean up before you see your grandparents
   • clean your fingernails before dinner
8. clean and tidy up the house
   • She housecleans every week
9. remove unwanted substances from, such as feathers or pits
   • Clean the turkey
10. make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from
    • Clean the stove!
    • The dentist cleaned my teeth

Noun

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

Adverb

1. in conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or cheating
   • they played fairly
2. completely; used as intensifiers
   • clean forgot the appointment
   • I'm plumb (or plum) tuckered out