| English Dictionary |
CLEAN
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does clean mean?
• CLEAN (noun)
The noun CLEAN has 1 sense:
1. a weightlift in which the barbell is lifted to shoulder height and then jerked overhead
Familiarity information: CLEAN used as a noun is very rare.
• CLEAN (adjective)
The adjective CLEAN has 18 senses:
1. free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
2. free of restrictions or qualifications
3. (of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims
4. free from impurities
5. (of a record) having no marks of discredit or offense
6. ritually clean or pure
7. not spreading pollution or contamination; especially radioactive contamination
8. (of behavior or especially language) free from objectionable elements; fit for all observers
9. free from sepsis or infection
10. morally pure
11. (of a manuscript) having few alterations or corrections
12. (of a surface) not written or printed on
13. exhibiting or calling for sportsmanship or fair play
14. without difficulties or problems
15. thorough and without qualification
16. not carrying concealed weapons
17. free from clumsiness; precisely or deftly executed
18. free of drugs
Familiarity information: CLEAN used as an adjective is very familiar.
• CLEAN (verb)
The verb CLEAN has 10 senses:
1. make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from
2. remove unwanted substances from, such as feathers or pits
3. clean and tidy up the house
4. clean one's body or parts thereof, as by washing
5. be cleanable
6. deprive wholly of money in a gambling game, robbery, etc.
7. remove all contents or possession from, or empty completely
8. remove while making clean
9. remove unwanted substances from
10. remove shells or husks from
Familiarity information: CLEAN used as a verb is familiar.
• CLEAN (adverb)
The adverb CLEAN has 2 senses:
1. completely; used as intensifiers
2. in conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or cheating
Familiarity information: CLEAN used as an adverb is rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
A weightlift in which the barbell is lifted to shoulder height and then jerked overhead
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
clean; clean and jerk
Hypernyms ("clean" is a kind of...):
weightlift; weightlifting (bodybuilding by exercise that involves lifting weights)
Meronyms (parts of "clean"):
jerk (raising a weight from shoulder height to above the head by straightening the arms)
| Declension: comparative and superlative |
Superlative: cleanest
Sense 1
Meaning:
Free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
Context example:
cats are clean animals
Similar:
immaculate; speckless; spic; spic-and-span; spick; spick-and-span; spotless (completely neat and clean)
washed; water-washed (clean by virtue of having been washed in water)
unsullied (spotlessly clean and fresh)
unsoiled; unspotted; unstained (without soil or spot or stain)
scrubbed (made clean by scrubbing)
pristine (immaculately clean and unused)
fresh; unused (not yet used or soiled)
dry-cleaned (cleaned with chemical solvents)
cleanly (habitually clean)
cleanable (capable of being cleaned)
Also:
antiseptic (thoroughly clean and free of or destructive to disease-causing organisms)
tidy (marked by order and cleanliness in appearance or habits)
Attribute:
cleanness (the state of being clean; without dirt or other impurities)
Antonym:
dirty (soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime)
Derivation:
cleanness (the state of being clean; without dirt or other impurities)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Free of restrictions or qualifications
Synonyms:
clean; clear
Context example:
a clear winner
Similar:
unqualified (not limited or restricted)
Sense 3
Meaning:
(of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims
Synonyms:
clean; clear; light; unclouded
Context example:
a light lilting voice like a silver bell
Similar:
pure (free of extraneous elements of any kind)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Free from impurities
Synonyms:
clean; fresh
Context example:
fresh air
Similar:
pure (free of extraneous elements of any kind)
Derivation:
cleanness (the state of being clean; without dirt or other impurities)
Sense 5
Meaning:
(of a record) having no marks of discredit or offense
Context example:
a clean driver's license
Similar:
perfect (being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish)
Sense 6
Meaning:
Ritually clean or pure
Similar:
halal; cosher; kosher (conforming to dietary laws)
Also:
clean (free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits)
pure (free of extraneous elements of any kind)
Domain category:
faith; religion; religious belief (a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny)
Antonym:
unclean (having a physical or moral blemish so as to make impure according to dietary or ceremonial laws)
Sense 7
Meaning:
Not spreading pollution or contamination; especially radioactive contamination
Synonyms:
clean; uncontaminating
Context example:
the tactical bomb is reasonably clean
Antonym:
dirty (spreading pollution or contamination; especially radioactive contamination)
Derivation:
cleanness (the state of being clean; without dirt or other impurities)
Sense 8
Meaning:
(of behavior or especially language) free from objectionable elements; fit for all observers
Synonyms:
clean; unobjectionable
Context example:
a clean joke
Similar:
antiseptic (devoid of objectionable language)
Also:
decent (conforming to conventions of sexual behavior)
Antonym:
dirty ((of behavior or especially language) characterized by obscenity or indecency)
Sense 9
Meaning:
Free from sepsis or infection
Synonyms:
clean; uninfected
Context example:
a clean (or uninfected) wound
Similar:
antiseptic (thoroughly clean and free of or destructive to disease-causing organisms)
Derivation:
cleanness (the state of being clean; without dirt or other impurities)
Sense 10
Meaning:
Morally pure
Synonyms:
clean; clean-living
Context example:
led a clean life
Similar:
moral (concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles)
Derivation:
cleanness (without moral defects)
Sense 11
Meaning:
(of a manuscript) having few alterations or corrections
Synonyms:
clean; fair
Context example:
a clean manuscript
Similar:
legible ((of handwriting, print, etc.) capable of being read or deciphered)
Sense 12
Meaning:
(of a surface) not written or printed on
Synonyms:
Context example:
wide white margins
Similar:
empty (holding or containing nothing)
Sense 13
Meaning:
Exhibiting or calling for sportsmanship or fair play
Synonyms:
clean; sporting; sportsmanlike; sporty
Context example:
sportsmanlike conduct
Similar:
fair; just (free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules)
Derivation:
cleanness (without moral defects)
Sense 14
Meaning:
Without difficulties or problems
Context example:
a clean test flight
Similar:
easy (posing no difficulty; requiring little effort)
Sense 15
Meaning:
Thorough and without qualification
Context example:
a clean break
Similar:
complete (having every necessary or normal part or component or step)
Sense 16
Meaning:
Not carrying concealed weapons
Similar:
unarmed ((used of persons or the military) not having or using arms)
Sense 17
Meaning:
Free from clumsiness; precisely or deftly executed
Synonyms:
clean; neat
Context example:
the neat exactness of the surgeon's knife
Similar:
adroit (quick or skillful or adept in action or thought)
Sense 18
Meaning:
Free of drugs
Context example:
after a long dependency on heroin she has been clean for 4 years
Similar:
unaddicted (not addicted)
| Conjugation: |
... he / she / it cleans Past simple: cleaned
Past participle: cleaned
-ing form: cleaning
Sense 1
Meaning:
Make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
clean; make clean
Context example:
The dentist cleaned my teeth
Hypernyms (to "clean" is one way to...):
alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)
Verb group:
clean; clean house; houseclean (clean and tidy up the house)
clean (be cleanable)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "clean"):
hygienise; hygienize; sanitise; sanitize (make sanitary by cleaning or sterilizing)
launder; wash (cleanse with a cleaning agent, such as soap, and water)
dry clean (clean with chemical agents)
scavenge (clean refuse from)
pipe-clay (whiten or clean with pipe-clay)
do the dishes; wash up (wash dishes)
sweep (clean by sweeping)
plume; preen (clean with one's bill)
steam; steam clean (clean by means of steaming)
bream (clean (a ship's bottom) with heat)
hoover; vacuum; vacuum-clean (clean with a vacuum cleaner)
dust (remove the dust from)
brush (clean with a brush)
disinfect (destroy microorganisms or pathogens by cleansing)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sentence example:
They clean the cape
Antonym:
dirty (make soiled, filthy, or dirty)
Derivation:
cleaner (a preparation used in cleaning something)
cleaner (someone whose occupation is cleaning)
cleaner (the operator of dry-cleaning establishment)
cleaning (the act of making something clean)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Remove unwanted substances from, such as feathers or pits
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
clean; pick
Context example:
Clean the turkey
Hypernyms (to "clean" is one way to...):
remove; take; take away; withdraw (remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 3
Meaning:
Clean and tidy up the house
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
clean; clean house; houseclean
Context example:
She housecleans every week
Hypernyms (to "clean" is one way to...):
clean up; neaten; square away; straighten; straighten out; tidy; tidy up (put (things or places) in order)
Verb group:
clean (remove while making clean)
clean; make clean (make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "clean"):
G.I.; GI (clean in preparation for inspection)
spring-clean (thoroughly clean the entire house, often done only once a year)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Derivation:
cleaner (someone whose occupation is cleaning)
cleaning (the act of making something clean)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Clean one's body or parts thereof, as by washing
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Synonyms:
clean; cleanse
Context example:
clean your fingernails before dinner
Hypernyms (to "clean" is one way to...):
groom; neaten (care for one's external appearance)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "clean"):
wash (to cleanse (itself or another animal) by licking)
lave; wash (cleanse (one's body) with soap and water)
lather; soap (rub soap all over, usually with the purpose of cleaning)
douche (direct a spray of water into a bodily cavity, for cleaning)
floss (use dental floss to clean)
decontaminate (rid of contamination)
bathe (cleanse the entire body)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Sentence example:
They clean themselves
Derivation:
cleaning (the act of making something clean)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Be cleanable
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Context example:
This stove cleans easily
Hypernyms (to "clean" is one way to...):
be (have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun))
Verb group:
clean; make clean (make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Derivation:
cleaning (the act of making something clean)
Sense 6
Meaning:
Deprive wholly of money in a gambling game, robbery, etc.
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Context example:
The other players cleaned him completely
Hypernyms (to "clean" is one way to...):
deprive; divest; strip (take away possessions from someone)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
Sense 7
Meaning:
Remove all contents or possession from, or empty completely
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
clean; strip
Context example:
The trees were cleaned of apples by the storm
Hypernyms (to "clean" is one way to...):
remove; take; take away; withdraw (remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody of something
Somebody ----s PP
Sense 8
Meaning:
Remove while making clean
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Context example:
Clean the spots off the rug
Hypernyms (to "clean" is one way to...):
remove; take; take away; withdraw (remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract)
Verb group:
clean; clean house; houseclean (clean and tidy up the house)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something PP
Sentence example:
They clean the snow from the path
Derivation:
cleaning (the act of making something clean)
Sense 9
Meaning:
Remove unwanted substances from
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
clean; scavenge
Hypernyms (to "clean" is one way to...):
remove; take; take away; withdraw (remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract)
Domain category:
chemical science; chemistry (the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Derivation:
cleaning (the act of making something clean)
Sense 10
Meaning:
Remove shells or husks from
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
clean grain before milling it
Hypernyms (to "clean" is one way to...):
remove; take; take away; withdraw (remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sentence example:
The chefs clean the vegetables
Sense 1
Meaning:
Completely; used as intensifiers
Synonyms:
Context example:
I'm plumb (or plum) tuckered out
Domain usage:
argot; cant; jargon; lingo; patois; slang; vernacular (a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves))
Sense 2
Meaning:
In conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or cheating
Synonyms:
Context example:
they played fairly
Context examples
The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer passengers than usual.
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
He kept the key in his pocket, made his own bed, cleaned it himself, and allowed no other foot to cross the threshold.
(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
At last he said: Oh, you wretched beard-cleaner, you piebald fool, you hungry mouse-hunter, what can you be thinking of?
(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)
Carbon Tetrachloride is used as a solvent for oils and fats, as a refrigerant and as a dry-cleaning agent.
(Carbon Tetrachloride, NCI Thesaurus)
The researchers used a ground station based in Manacapuru city — located 80 kilometres from Manaus — which receives both the pollution carried by the wind from Manaus and the clean air from the forest.
(Tiny pollutants intensify storms in the Amazon, SciDev.Net)
In medicine, the removal of an organ or tumor in such a way that it comes out clean and whole, like a nut from its shell.
(Enucleation, NCI Dictionary)
Scar tissue cannot do what healthy liver tissue does - make protein, help fight infections, clean the blood, help digest food and store energy.
(Cirrhosis, NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Our only chance of safety lay in making a clean job of it, said he, and he would not leave a tongue with power to wag in a witness-box.
(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
For babies, you should clean teeth with a soft, clean cloth or baby's toothbrush.
(Child Dental Health, NIH: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)
Keeping your nails clean, dry, and trimmed can help you avoid some problems.
(Nail Diseases, NIH)
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