Clean | Mean of clean in English Dictionary

/ˈkliːn/

• free from dirt, marks, etc.
1. a clean floor
2. This table isn't clean. There's a sticky spot where something spilled.
3. He keeps a very clean house.
4. The janitor does a good job of keeping the office clean.
5. clean laundry/socks/towels/sheets
6. I wiped the baby's face clean.
• tending to keep clean
1. He's a clean young man.
2. Cats are very clean animals.
• free from pollution or other dangerous substances
1. clean air/water

• not causing pollution
1. Solar power provides clean energy.
2. a clean fuel
• not yet used
1. a clean [=blank, fresh] piece/sheet of paper
• not having any mistakes
1. We need a clean copy of the document.
• not infected
1. a clean wound
• pleasingly simple
1. I like the clean simplicity of the chair's design.
2. She wore a formal wool suit with clean lines.
• having edges that are straight and smooth
1. a clean cut
2. The vase was broken, but it was a clean break and easily repaired with a little glue.
• completely and quickly done
1. The bank robbers made a clean getaway.
2. 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]
• done in a skillful and impressive way without mistakes or awkwardness
1. a clean dive/catch/hit
2. The gymnast made a clean landing.
• not showing evidence of any broken rules or laws
1. She has a clean driving record.
• not connected with or involving anything illegal or morally wrong
1. a clean candidate
2. They believe in hard work and clean living.
3. The party was good, clean fun.
• not referring to anything sexual or offensive
1. Only clean jokes, please. There are children here.
2. clean language
• no longer using drugs
1. He's been clean for five years.
2. clean and sober
• not carrying any weapons, drugs, etc.
1. All visitors to the prison are searched to make sure they're clean.
2. I checked her; she's clean.
• a person's record (as from a school or a job) that shows no evidence of any problems, broken rules, etc.
1. Everyone who comes to this school starts with a clean slate.
• a game in which the opposing team is prevented from scoring
1. The team's star goalie has had five clean sheets [=(US) shutouts] this season. [=has prevented the other team from scoring in five games]
• a victory in which one side or team wins every game, contest, etc.
1. The Red Sox won the series in a clean sweep.
2. The election was a clean sweep for local Democratic candidates.
• a complete change in something
1. 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]
• to tell the truth about what happened
1. Eventually she came clean and helped the police recover the goods she'd stolen.
2. He's finally come clean about his role in the scandal.
• Verb
• to make (something) clean
1. The carpet needs to be cleaned.
2. clean your fingernails
3. clean [=brush] your teeth
4. clean [=wash] the windows
5. They divide household duties so that she cleans and her husband cooks.
• to become clean
1. The pan has a surface that cleans easily. [=that is easy to clean]
• to make (something, such as a room) neat and orderly
1. Clean your room.
• to remove the organs from the inside of (an animal) before cooking
1. They cleaned the fish and cooked them on the campfire.
2. skin and clean a rabbit/deer
• to remove unwanted things from (a room, closet, etc.)
1. We spent the weekend cleaning out the garage. [=clearing unwanted items from the garage]
2. I need to clean out my purse.
• to steal or take everything from (someone or something)
1. The thieves broke in and cleaned out the store.
2. She fell for the scheme and was cleaned out. [=all her money was taken]
• to use up all or most of someone's money
1. Buying the house really cleaned us out. Now we're broke.
• to remove (dirt, spilled substances, etc.)
1. Would you mind cleaning up the spilled milk?
2. It will only take a moment to clean this mess up.
• to make (a room or space) clean and orderly
1. Would you mind helping me clean up the kitchen after dinner?
2. We stayed late to help them clean up.
3. His mother is always cleaning up after him.
4. You should learn to clean up after yourself.
• to remove pollution from (something)
1. The city has cleaned up the bay in recent years.
• to make yourself clean
1. I'm sure you'll want to clean up after a full day of traveling.
2. I just need a few minutes to clean myself up before dinner.
3. The children are inside getting cleaned up.
• to remove whatever is illegal or immoral from (something)
1. The new mayor has really cleaned up city hall. [=has made the city government less corrupt]
• to make (something) clearer or more acceptable
1. We were able to clean up the sound on the recording using special equipment.
2. He's cleaned up his image since his early rock music days.
• to eat all of (something)
1. The teenagers cleaned up [=(more commonly) polished off] the pizza in a matter of minutes.
• to make a large amount of money
1. She really cleaned up last year in the stock market.
• to behave in a way that is more acceptable
1. After years of drug abuse, she finally got treatment and cleaned up her act.
• to eat all the food on your plate
1. The children were not allowed to have dessert until they had cleaned their plates.
• all the way
1. Somehow, the top of the machine came clean off.
2. The nail went clean through the wall.
3. The fish were jumping clean out of the water.
• Noun
• an act of removing dirt from something
1. She gave the tub a good clean. [=she cleaned the tub thoroughly]