clean |klēn|
adjective
1 free from dirt, marks, or stains : the room was spotlessly clean | keep the wound clean.
• having been washed since last worn or used : a clean blouse.
• [ attrib. ] (of paper) not yet marked by writing or drawing : he copied the directions onto a clean sheet of paper.
• (of a person) attentive to personal hygiene : by nature he was clean and neat.
• free from pollutants or unpleasant substances : we will create a cleaner, safer environment.
• free from or producing relatively little radioactive contamination.
2 morally uncontaminated; pure; innocent : clean living.
• not sexually offensive or obscene : it's all good clean fun | even when clean, his verses are very funny.
• showing or having no record of offenses or crimes : a clean driving license is essential for the job.
• played or done according to the rules : it was a good clean fight.
• [ predic. ] informal not possessing or containing anything illegal, esp. drugs or stolen goods : I searched him and his luggage, and he was clean.
• [ predic. ] informal (of a person) not taking or having taken drugs or alcohol.
• free from ceremonial defilement, according to Mosaic Law and similar religious codes.
• (of an animal) not prohibited under such codes and fit to be used for food.
3 free from irregularities; having a smooth edge or surface : a clean fracture of the leg.
• having a simple, well-defined, and pleasing shape : the clean lines and pared-down planes of modernism.
• (of an action) smoothly and skillfully done : I still hadn't made a clean takeoff.
• (of a taste, sound, or smell) giving a clear and distinctive impression to the senses; sharp and fresh : clean, fresh, natural flavors.
• (of timber) free from knots.
adverb
1 so as to be free from dirt, marks, or unwanted matter : the room had been washed clean.
2 informal used to emphasize the completeness of a reported action, condition, or experience : he was knocked clean off his feet | I clean forgot her birthday.
verb [ trans. ]
make (something or someone) free of dirt, marks, or mess, esp. by washing, wiping, or brushing : clean your teeth properly after meals | chair covers should be easy to clean | we cleaned Uncle Jim up and made him presentable | [ intrans. ] he always expected other people to clean up after him | [as n. ] ( cleaning) Anne will help with the cleaning.
• remove the innards of (fish or poultry) prior to cooking.
PHRASES
( as) clean as a whistle see whistle .
clean bill of health see bill of health .
clean someone's clock informal give someone a beating : he went wild and cleaned everybody's clock down there in the dugout. • defeat or surpass someone decisively.
clean house do housework. • eliminate corruption or inefficiency : unless our organization cleans house, it will be difficult to raise funds.
clean one's plate eat up all the food put on one's plate.
a clean sweep 1 the removal of all unwanted people or things in order to start afresh : the new leaders wanted to make a clean sweep of the discredited old order. 2 the winning of all of a group of similar or related competitions, events, or matches : he was in reach of the nomination after a clean sweep of Tuesday's primaries.
clean up one's act informal begin to behave in a better way, esp. by giving up alcohol, drugs, or illegal activities : the casino industry is bent on cleaning up its act.
come clean informal be completely honest; keep nothing hidden : the company has refused to come clean about its pollution record.
have clean hands be uninvolved and blameless with regard to an immoral act : no one involved in the conflict has clean hands.
keep one's hands clean not involve oneself in an immoral act.
keep one's nose clean see nose .
make a clean breast of something (or make a clean breast of it) confess fully one's mistakes or wrongdoings.
make a clean job of something informal do something thoroughly.
wipe the slate clean see wipe .
PHRASAL VERBS
clean someone out informal use up or take all someone's money : they were cleaned out by the Englishman at the baccarat table.
clean up • make things or an area clean or neat : he was in the kitchen, cleaning up. • informal make a substantial gain or profit. • win all the prizes available in a sporting competition or series of events : the Germans cleaned up at Wimbledon.
clean something up restore order or morality to : the police chief was given the job of cleaning up a notorious district.
DERIVATIVES
cleanable adjective
cleanish adjective
cleanness noun
ORIGIN Old English clǣne; related to Dutch and German klein ‘small.’
