adj. 1 pure, undefiled, unsullied, unmixed, unadulterated, uncontaminated, unpolluted, uninfected, unspoiled or unspoilt, sanitary, disinfected; antiseptic, decontaminated, purified, sterile The laboratory reports that our well water is absolutely clean You must use a clean bandage. 2 unsoiled, untainted, unstained; unsullied; cleansed, cleanly, (freshly) laundered or washed, scrubbed; spotless, immaculate She puts on clean underwear every day in case she's involved in an accident 3 clean-cut, neat, simple, definite, uncomplicated, smooth, even, straight, trim, tidy The edges of the fracture are clean and will mend quickly 4 innocent, blameless, inoffensive, respectable; decent, chaste, pure, honourable, good, undefiled, virtuous, moral The suspect was completely clean - he was out of town at the time of the robbery 5 non-radioactive They say they've produced a clean bomb, but I don't believe it 6 unarmed, weaponless Frisk that suspect and make sure he's clean
adv. 7 completely, entirely, thoroughly, fully, totally, wholly, altogether, quite, utterly, absolutely Geoff's clean out of his mind if he believes that With one blow he cut the orange clean through. 8 come clean. confess, acknowledge, make a clean breast, admit, make a revelation, reveal, Colloq own up, spill the beans; US dialect fess up; Slang sing In the end he saw that he was trapped and decided to come clean
v. 9 cleanse, wash, lave, (take a) shower, sponge, mop, scrub, scour, sweep, dust, vacuum, polish, launder, dry-clean, Brit hoover; tidy, neaten, do up, straighten up or out, unclutter; Brit bath; US and Canadian bathe When we cleaned the urn, we could read the inscription I have told Richard a thousand times to clean his room. 10 clean out. a exhaust, deplete The gambler cleaned her out of every penny she had in the world b empty, leave bare, clear out, evacuate We must clean out the larder before it can be painted 11 clean up. a clean, cleanse, wash, (take a) shower, Brit bath; US take a bath, bathe, wash up Clean up, please, dinner is almost ready It took us a week to clean up the stables. b purge, purify, disinfect, depollute, decontaminate, clear, sanitize The council has led the way towards cleaning up the wetlands of chemical waste