/ kliːn; NAmE / adjective , verb , adverb , noun
■ adjective
( clean·er , clean·est )
NOT DIRTY
1.
not dirty :
Are your hands clean?
to wipe sth clean
The hotel was spotlessly (= extremely) clean .
( BrE )
It is your responsibility to keep the room clean and tidy .
( NAmE )
Keep your room neat and clean .
I can't find a clean shirt (= one I haven't worn since it was washed) .
2.
having a clean appearance and clean surroundings :
Cats are very clean animals.
NOT HARMFUL
3.
free from harmful or unpleasant substances :
clean drinking water
clean air
cleaner cars (= not producing so many harmful substances)
PAPER
4.
[ usually before noun ] with nothing written on it :
a clean sheet of paper
NOT OFFENSIVE
5.
not offensive or referring to sex; not doing anything that is considered immoral or bad :
The entertainment was good clean fun for the whole family.
Keep the jokes clean please!
The sport has a very clean image.
NOT ILLEGAL
6.
not showing or having any record of doing sth that is against the law :
a clean driving licence / driver's license
a clean police record
7.
( informal ) not owning or carrying anything illegal such as drugs or weapons :
The police searched her but she was clean.
FAIR
8.
played or done in a fair way and within the rules :
It was a tough but clean game.
SMOOTH / SIMPLE
9.
having a smooth edge, surface or shape; simple and regular :
A sharp knife makes a clean cut.
a modern design with clean lines and a bright appearance
ACCURATE
10.
done in a skilful and accurate way :
The plane made a clean take-off.
TASTE / SMELL
11.
tasting, smelling or looking pleasant and fresh :
The wine has a clean taste and a lovely golden colour.
—compare unclean
•
IDIOMS
- as clean as a whistle
- a clean bill of health
- a clean break
- a clean sheet / slate
- make a clean breast of sth
- make a clean sweep (of sth)
—more at nose noun , wipe verb
■ verb
1.
to make sth free from dirt or dust by washing or rubbing it :
[ vn ]
to clean the windows / bath / floor
to clean a wound
Have you cleaned your teeth ?
The villa is cleaned twice a week.
[ v ]
I spent all day cooking and cleaning.
—see also dry-clean , spring-clean
2.
[ v ] to become clean :
This oven cleans easily (= is easy to clean) .
3.
[ vn ] = dry-clean :
This coat is filthy. I'll have it cleaned .
4.
[ vn ] to remove the inside parts of a fish, chicken, etc. before you cook it
•
IDIOMS
- clean house
- clean up your act
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- clean sth down
- clean sth off / from sth | clean sth off
- clean sth out
- clean sb out
- clean sb/sth out
- clean (yourself) up
- clean up | clean sth up
- clean sth up
■ adverb
( informal ) used to emphasize that an action takes place completely :
The thief got clean away.
I clean forgot about calling him.
•
IDIOMS
- come clean (with sb) (about sth)
■ noun
[ sing. ] the act or process of cleaning sth :
The house needed a good clean.
••
SYNONYMS
clean
wash ♦ rinse ♦ cleanse ♦ dry-clean ♦ bathe
These words all mean to remove dirt from sth, especially by using water and/or soap.
clean
to remove dirt or dust from sth, especially by using water or chemicals:
The villa is cleaned twice a week.
•
Have you cleaned your teeth?
•
This coat is filthy. I'll have it cleaned (= dry-cleaned)
.
wash
to remove dirt from sth using water and usually soap:
He quickly washed his hands and face.
•
These jeans need washing.
rinse
to remove dirt, etc. from sth using clean water only, not soap; to remove the soap from sth with clean water after washing it:
Rinse the cooked pasta with boiling water.
•
Make sure you rinse all the soap out.
cleanse
to clean your skin or a wound.
dry-clean
to clean clothes using chemicals instead of water.
bathe
to wash sth with water, especially a wound or a part of the body.
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
to clean / wash / rinse / cleanse / bathe sth in / with sth
to clean / wash / rinse sth from sth
to clean / wash / cleanse / bathe a wound
to clean / wash / rinse (down) the car
to clean / wash / rinse the floor
to wash / rinse your hair
to have sth cleaned / washed / dry-cleaned
to wash / rinse sth clean
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English clǣne , of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German klein small.