clean

I. clean¹ S2 W2 /kliːn/ BrE AmE adjective (comparative cleaner, superlative cleanest)
[Word Family: noun: ↑cleaner, ↑cleaning, ↑cleanliness, ↑clean, ↑cleanser; verb: ↑clean, ↑cleanse; adverb: ↑clean, ↑cleanly; adjective: ↑clean ≠ ↑unclean]
[Language: Old English; Origin: clæne]
1. NOT DIRTY without any dirt, marks etc OPP dirty:
Are your hands clean?
clean towels
Make sure you keep the wound clean.
Wipe that sink clean when you’re done.
As usual, she left her room clean and tidy before going to school.
a spotlessly clean kitchen
I want you to get those plates as clean as a whistle.
2. PEOPLE/ANIMALS having a clean appearance and habits:
Cats are naturally clean.
3. ENVIRONMENT containing or producing nothing that is dirty or harmful ⇨ cleanly
clean air/water/energy etc
the Clean Air Act
cleaner fuels
4. FAIR OR LEGAL
a) done in a fair or legal way OPP dirty:
a clean fight
b) showing that you have followed the rules:
a clean driving licence
He’s got a clean record.
c) [not before noun] informal not hiding any weapons or illegal drugs:
They searched him, but he was clean.
d) [not before noun] no longer taking illegal drugs:
Dave’s been clean for two years now.
5. NOT OFFENSIVE talk, jokes, behaviour etc that are clean are not offensive or about sex OPP dirty:
Oh, don’t get mad – it’s just good clean fun!
Keep it clean (=do not offend people with what you say).
clean living (=a way of life which is healthy and moral)
6. come clean informal to finally tell the truth about something you have been hiding
come clean about
The government should come clean about its plans.
7. make a clean breast of it to admit that you have done something wrong so that you no longer feel guilty
8. a clean break
a complete and sudden separation from a person, organization, or situation:
Den left the next day, needing to make a clean break.
9. clean sheet/slate a record of someone’s work, behaviour, performance etc that shows they have not done anything wrong or made any mistakes:
Jed looked forward to starting life again with a clean sheet.
Lewis has kept a clean sheet in every game (=not let the other team score).
10. clean hands if a person, government, organization etc has clean hands, they have done something in a fair or legal way:
Neither side is coming to the negotiating table with completely clean hands.
11. PAPER a piece of paper that is clean has not yet been used SYN fresh
12. SMOOTH having a smooth or regular edge or surface ⇨ cleanly:
a clean cut
Use a clean simple typeface for signs.
13. a clean bill of health a report that says you are healthy or that a machine or building is safe:
Inspectors gave the factory a clean bill of health.
14. a clean sweep
a) a very impressive victory in a competition, election etc
a clean sweep for
All the polls had pointed to a clean sweep for the Democrats.
Hopes that the French would make a clean sweep at the Games were dashed.
b) a complete change in a company or organization, often by removing people
15. TASTE having a fresh pleasant taste:
Add a little lemon juice to give the pasta a cool clean taste.
16. clean copy a piece of writing without mistakes or other marks written on it
17. MOVEMENT a clean movement in sport is skilful and exact:
He steadied his arm, hoping for a clean shot.
—cleanness noun [uncountable]
⇨ ↑clean-cut, ⇨ keep your nose clean at ↑nose¹(9)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ nouns
▪ clean clothes He had a shower and changed into clean clothes.
▪ a clean shirt/sheet/towel etc Where are all my clean socks?
▪ clean hands Make sure you have clean hands before you eat.
■ verbs
▪ keep something clean You should always keep your kitchen clean.
▪ wipe something clean (=use a cloth to clean a surface) He started to wipe the blackboard clean.
▪ sweep/scrub something clean (=use a brush to clean something) She quickly swept the floor clean.
▪ leave something clean Please leave the apartment clean when you go.
■ adverbs
▪ spotlessly/scrupulously clean (=very clean) Hospitals must be kept scrupulously clean.
▪ squeaky clean (=completely clean) I like my hair to be squeaky clean.
■ phrases
▪ nice and clean (=clean) Their job is to keep the streets nice and clean.
▪ clean and tidy especially BrE: I insist my children keep their rooms clean and tidy.
▪ neat and clean especially AmE: Her kids were always neat and clean.
▪ clean as a whistle (=very clean) The place was clean as a whistle.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ clean without any dirt or marks: They need clean water to drink. | I don’t have any clean clothes.
▪ pure water or air that is pure does not contain any dirt, pollution, or bacteria: I breathed in the pure mountain air.
▪ sterile /ˈsteraɪl $ -rəl/ completely clean, with no bacteria, and therefore safe for medical or scientific use: Place a sterile bandage on the wound. | sterile needles
▪ spotless completely clean – used mainly about rooms and clothes: Her kitchen is always spotless.
▪ pristine /ˈprɪstiːn/ completely clean and new-looking: He wore a pristine white shirt.
▪ immaculate as clean and tidy as it is possible to be: The soldiers’ uniforms have to be immaculate.
▪ spick and span [not before noun] informal clean and tidy, especially after having just been cleaned: By the end of the day, the whole place was spick and span.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

clean

clean [clean cleans cleaned cleaning cleaner cleanest] adjective, verb, adverb, noun [kliːn] [kliːn]

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
• We all want a cleaner environment but who is going to pay for it?
• cleaner cars (= not producing so many harmful substances)

• Electric buses are a clean, environmentally friendly way to travel.

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
more at keep your nose clean at nose _n., wipe the slate clean at wipe _v.
Word Origin:
Old English clǣne, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German klein ‘small’.
Thesaurus:
clean adj.
• Are your hands clean?
pure • • sterile • • hygienic • • spotless •
Opp: dirty
clean/pure/sterile (drinking) water
clean/sterile/hygienic conditions
keep sth clean/pure/sterile/spotless
Example Bank:
• I scrubbed the floor to get it clean.
• Is your room clean and tidy now?
• It's almost clean. I just have to wipe the table.
• Please leave the kitchen clean.
• She wiped all the surfaces clean.
• The bathroom doesn't stay clean for long.
• The room smelled clean and fresh.
• The water was lovely and clean.
• The whole house was spotlessly clean.
• You're supposed to keep your room clean.
• Fiscal incentives will be introduced to encourage the use of cleaner cars.
• He wiped his plate clean with a piece of bread.
• I can't find a clean shirt.
• It is your responsibility to keep the room clean and tidy.
• Keep your room neat and clean.

• Thousands were left without food or clean drinking water.

Idioms: as clean as a whistle ▪ clean bill of health ▪ clean break ▪ clean house ▪ clean sheet ▪ clean up your act ▪ come clean ▪ make a clean breast of something ▪ make a clean sweep

Derived: clean somebody out ▪ clean something down ▪ clean something off ▪ clean something off something ▪ clean something out ▪ clean something up ▪ clean up

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

clean / kliːn / adjective (NOT DIRTY)

A1 not dirty:

a clean white shirt

clean air/water

Make sure your hands are clean before you have your dinner.

Hospitals need to be kept spotlessly (= extremely) clean.

clean / kliːn / adjective (HONEST)

C2 honest or fair, or showing that you have not done anything illegal:

a good clean fight/contest

The judge took the defendant's clean record (= the absence of previous involvement in crime) into account when passing sentence.

I've always had a clean driving licence .

slang not doing anything illegal, or not having or carrying illegal drugs or stolen goods:

The police busted Pete last night, but he was clean.

clean / kliːn / adjective (MORAL)

morally acceptable:

It's all good clean fun .

clean living

not about sex:

Can't you think of any clean jokes ?

clean / kliːn / adjective (NOT ROUGH)

having no rough edges, and smooth, straight, or equally balanced:

I've broken my leg, but the doctor says that it's a clean break , so it should heal easily.

A good clean hit from Pietersen sent the ball straight out to the boundary.

What he liked about the car was its clean lines .

I tried to make a clean cut , but the knife wasn't sharp enough.

clean / kliːn / adjective [ before noun ] (COMPLETE)

complete:

It's better for both of us if we make a clean break (of it) (= end our relationship completely) .

Sara says she needs a clean break with the past.

The new prime minister is expected to make a clean sweep (= a complete change) of the government.

clean / kliːn / adjective [ before noun ] (NOTHING ON)

When something you write on is clean, there is nothing on it or it is not yet used:

Take a clean sheet of paper.

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

clean

/kli:n/
(cleaner, cleanest, cleans, cleaning, cleaned)

Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.

1.
Something that is clean is free from dirt or unwanted marks.
He wore his cleanest slacks, a clean shirt and a navy blazer...
Disease has not been a problem because clean water is available...
The metro is efficient and spotlessly clean...
≠ dirty
ADJ

2.
You say that people or animals are clean when they keep themselves or their surroundings clean.
≠ dirty
ADJ

3.
A clean fuel or chemical process does not create many harmful or polluting substances.
Fans of electric cars say they are clean, quiet and economical.
≠ dirty
ADJ
• clean‧ly
Manufacturers are working with new fuels to find one that burns more cleanly than petrol.
ADV: ADV after v

4.
If you clean something or clean dirt off it, you make it free from dirt and unwanted marks, for example by washing or wiping it. If something cleans easily, it is easy to clean.
Her father cleaned his glasses with a paper napkin...
It took half an hour to clean the orange powder off the bath...
Wood flooring not only cleans easily, but it’s environmentally friendly into the bargain.
VERB: V n, V n prep/adv, V adv
•
Clean is also a noun.
Give the cooker a good clean.
N-SING

5.
If you clean a room or house, you make the inside of it and the furniture in it free from dirt and dust.
With them also lived Mary Burinda, who cooked and cleaned...
She got up early and cleaned the flat.
VERB: V, V n
• clean‧ing
I do the cleaning myself.
N-UNCOUNT

6.
If you describe something such as a book, joke, or lifestyle as clean, you think that they are not sexually immoral or offensive.
They’re trying to show clean, wholesome, decent movies...
Flirting is good clean fun...
≠ dirty
ADJ [approval]

7.
If someone has a clean reputation or record, they have never done anything illegal or wrong.
Accusations of tax evasion have tarnished his clean image...
You can hire these from most car hire firms, provided you have a clean driving licence.
ADJ

8.
A clean game or fight is carried out fairly, according to the rules.
He called for a clean fight in the election and an end to ‘negative campaigning’...
= fair
≠ dirty
ADJ: usu ADJ n
• clean‧ly
The game had been cleanly fought.
ADV: ADV after v, ADV -ed

9.
A clean sheet of paper has no writing or drawing on it.
Take a clean sheet of paper and down the left-hand side make a list.
= blank
ADJ: usu ADJ n

10.
If you make a clean break or start, you end a situation completely and start again in a different way.
She wanted to make a clean break from her mother and father.
ADJ: ADJ n

11.
Clean is used to emphasize that something was done completely. (INFORMAL)
It burned clean through the seat of my overalls...
I clean forgot everything I had prepared.
ADV: usu ADV prep/adv, also ADV before v [emphasis]

12.
You can describe an action as clean to indicate that it is carried out simply and quickly without mistakes.
They were more concerned about the dogs’ welfare than a clean getaway...
≠ messy
ADJ: usu ADJ n
• clean‧ly
I struck the ball cleanly and my shot was on target.
ADV: ADV after v, ADV -ed

13.
If you come clean about something that you have been keeping secret, you admit it or tell people about it. (INFORMAL)
It would be better if you come clean about it and let her know what kind of man she is seeing.
PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR about/on n

14.
to clean up your act: see act
to keep your nose clean: see nose
a clean slate: see slate
to wipe the slate clean: see slate
a clean sweep: see sweep
clean as a whistle: see whistle

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

¹clean /ˈkliːn/ adj clean·er; -est
1 : free from dirt, marks, etc. : not dirty
• a clean floor
• This table isn't clean. There's a sticky spot where something spilled.
• He keeps a very clean house.
• The janitor does a good job of keeping the office clean.
• clean laundry/socks/towels/sheets
• I wiped the baby's face clean.
2 : tending to keep clean
• He's a clean young man.
• Cats are very clean animals.
3 a : free from pollution or other dangerous substances
• clean air/water
b : not causing pollution
• Solar power provides clean energy.
• a clean fuel
4 a : not yet used
• a clean [=blank, fresh] piece/sheet of paper
b of a document : not having any mistakes
• We need a clean copy of the document.
5 : not infected
• a clean wound
6 : pleasingly simple
• I like the clean simplicity of the chair's design.
• She wore a formal wool suit with clean lines.
7 : having edges that are straight and smooth
• a clean cut
• The vase was broken, but it was a clean break and easily repaired with a little glue.
8 : completely and quickly done
• The bank robbers made a clean getaway.
• When he left home, he made a clean break with the past. [=he completely separated himself from everything that had been part of his life]
9 sports : done in a skillful and impressive way without mistakes or awkwardness
• a clean dive/catch/hit
• The gymnast made a clean landing.
10 : not showing evidence of any broken rules or laws
• She has a clean driving record.
- see also clean slate (below)
11 a : not connected with or involving anything illegal or morally wrong
• a clean candidate
• They believe in hard work and clean living.
• The party was good, clean fun.
b : not referring to anything sexual or offensive
• Only clean jokes, please. There are children here.
• clean language
12 not used before a noun : no longer using drugs : not addicted to drugs
• He's been clean for five years.
• clean and sober
13 not used before a noun informal : not carrying any weapons, drugs, etc.
• All visitors to the prison are searched to make sure they're clean.
• I checked her; she's clean.
clean as a whistle
- see ¹whistle
clean slate also Brit clean sheet
1 : a person's record (as from a school or a job) that shows no evidence of any problems, broken rules, etc. : a clean record
• Everyone who comes to this school starts with a clean slate.
2 clean sheet Brit : a game in which the opposing team is prevented from scoring
• The team's star goalie has had five clean sheets [=(US) shutouts] this season. [=has prevented the other team from scoring in five games]
clean sweep
1 : a victory in which one side or team wins every game, contest, etc.
• The Red Sox won the series in a clean sweep.
• The election was a clean sweep for local Democratic candidates.
2 : a complete change in something
• The new governor has made a clean sweep of the staff in the governor's mansion. [=the new governor completely replaced the former governor's staff]
come clean informal : to tell the truth about what happened : to stop hiding the truth
• Eventually she came clean and helped the police recover the goods she'd stolen.
• He's finally come clean about his role in the scandal.
give (someone or something) a clean bill of health
- see ¹bill
keep your nose clean
- see ¹nose
make a clean breast of
- see ¹breast
wipe the slate clean
- see ¹wipe
- clean·ness /ˈkliːnnəs/ noun [noncount]
• the cleanness of the image