■ adjective
1》 free from dirt, marks, or pollutants.
↘attentive to personal hygiene.
2》 morally pure.
↘not offensive or obscene: good ~ fun.
↘showing or having no record of offences or crimes.
↘done according to the rules.
3》 free from irregularities; smooth; well defined: a ~ fracture of the leg.
4》 (of an action) smoothly and skilfully done.
5》 (of a taste, sound, or smell) distinctive and fresh.
■ adverb
1》 so as to be free from dirt.
2》 informal completely: I ~ forgot her birthday.
■ verb
1》 remove dirt or marks from; make ~.
2》 ( ~ someone out ) informal use up or take all someone's money.
↘( ~ something out ) strip a place of and steal all its contents.
3》 ( ~ up ) informal make a substantial gain or profit.
■ noun an act of ~ing.
Phrases
~ and jerk a weightlifting exercise in which a weight is raised above the head following an initial lift to shoulder level.
~ someone's clock N. Amer. informal beat or decisively defeat someone.
a ~ sheet (or slate ) an absence of existing restraints or commitments.
↘( keep a ~ sheet ) (in a soccer match) prevent the opposing side from scoring.
come ~ informal fully confess something.
keep one's hands ~ remain uninvolved in an immoral or illegal act.
make a ~ breast of it fully confess one's mistakes or wrongdoings.
make a ~ sweep
1》 remove all unwanted people or things ready to start afresh.
2》 win all of a group of related sporting contests.
Derivatives
~able adjective
~ing noun
~ish adjective
~ness noun
Origin
OE clne , of W. Gmc origin.