transitive verb
Etymology: clean (III) + out
1. : to strip or exhaust of all contents, supplies, or resources
the redecorating job cleaned out the club treasury
2.
a. : to eliminate, dismiss, or expel (as from a group or organization)
intent on cleaning out inefficient personnel in the department
cleaned out both open foes and lukewarm friends in the old cabinet
b. : to rout out or exterminate the occupants of
clean out an enemy machine-gun nest
3. : to exhaust the stock of
tourists cleaned out the shops
heavy rains cleaned us out of boots