Clean Definition and Meaning
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Published on May 2, 2024
Clean refers to being free from dirt, marks, or stains and also suggests the absence of impurities or contaminants. e.g., He made sure the kitchen was clean before guests arrived.
Table of Contents
Clean Definitions
To remove dirt, impurities, or unwanted substances from something.
Every Saturday, she cleans the entire house.
Not possessing or done with anything illegal or illicit.
The athlete had a clean record with no history of doping.
To make an area or object tidy by removing rubbish or unwanted items.
He cleaned up the workshop after finishing his project.
To prepare, especially in food preparation, by removing inedible or unwanted parts.
She cleaned the fish before cooking it.
To remove unwanted data or files from a system or database.
Regularly clean your computer of malware to keep it running smoothly.
Free from dirt, stain, or impurities; unsoiled
A clean kitchen floor.
Clean clothes.
Free from foreign matter or pollution; unadulterated
Clean air.
Clean drinking water.
Not infected
A clean wound.
Producing relatively little pollution
A clean fuel.
A cleaner, more efficient engine.
Producing relatively little radioactive fallout or contamination
A clean nuclear bomb.
Having no imperfections or blemishes; regular or even
A clean edge.
A smooth, clean joint.
Not ornate or intricate; spare
"the clean lines and exquisite proportions of early modernism" (Judith Thurman).
Sharply defined; clear-cut
A clean outline against the sky.
Free from clumsiness; deft; adroit
A clean throw.
Devoid of restrictions or encumbrances
A clean bill of health.
Thorough; complete
A clean getaway.
Having few alterations or corrections; legible
Clean manuscript.
Blank
A clean page.
Morally pure; virtuous
Led a clean life.
Having no marks of discredit or offense
A clean voting record.
Fit for all readers, listeners, or audiences; not ribald or obscene
A clean joke.
Honest or fair
A clean fighter.
A clean competition.
Not carrying concealed weapons or drugs.
Innocent of a suspected crime.
Free from narcotics addiction.
Showing no evidence of using banned or performance-enhancing substances
Proven to be clean before the race.
So as to be unsoiled
Wash the dishes clean.
In a fair manner
Played the game clean.
In a clean or nonpolluting manner
A fuel that burns clean.
(Informal) Entirely; wholly
Clean forgot the appointment.
To rid of dirt, rubbish, or impurities
Clean a room.
Clean a suit.
To get rid of (impurities or dirt, for example); remove
Cleaned up the trash.
Cleaned off the stains.
To prepare (fowl or other food) for cooking, as by removing the entrails or fat.
To remove the contents from; empty
Cleaned my plate.
(Sports) To lift (a barbell) from the floor to the shoulders in one motion.
To undergo or perform an act of cleaning.
Free of dirt or impurities or protruberances.
Not dirty.
Are these dishes clean?
Your room is finally clean!
In an unmarked condition.
Put a clean sheet of paper into the printer.
(aerodynamics) Allowing an uninterrupted flow over surfaces, without protrusions such as racks or landing gear.
(aviation) Having the undercarriage and flaps in the up position.
Empty.
The cargo hold is clean.
Mister, I want to see a clean dinner plate or there'll be no dessert for you.
(of metal) Having relatively few impurities.
Clean steel
Free of immorality or criminality.
Pure, especially morally or religiously.
Our kids can watch this movie because it is clean.
Not having used drugs or alcohol.
I've been clean this time for eight months.
(of criminal, driving, etc. records) Without restrictions or penalties, or someone having such a record.
Unlike you, I’ve never caused any accidents — my record is still clean!
(informal) Not in possession of weapons or contraband such as drugs.
I'm clean, officer. You can go ahead and search me if you want.
(informal) Devoid of profanity.
Smooth, exact, and performed well.
I'll need a sharper knife to make clean cuts.
A clean leap over a fence
(obsolete) Total; utter. still in "clean sweep"
(informal) Cool or neat.
Wow, Dude, those are some clean shoes ya got there!
(health) Being free of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
I want to make sure my fiancé is clean before we are married.
That does not damage the environment.
Clean energy;
Clean coal
Free from that which is useless or injurious; without defects.
Clean land;
Clean timber
Free from restraint or neglect; complete; entire.
Well-proportioned; shapely.
Clean limbs
Ascended without falling.
Removal of dirt.
This place needs a clean.
(weightlifting) The first part of the event clean and jerk in which the weight is brought from the ground to the shoulders.
(transitive) To remove dirt from a place or object.
Can you clean the windows today?
(transitive) To tidy up, make a place neat.
Clean your room right now!
To remove equipment from a climbing route after it was previously lead climbed.
(intransitive) To make things clean in general.
She just likes to clean. That’s why I married her.
To remove unnecessary files, etc. from (a directory, etc.).
To brush the ice lightly in front of a moving rock to remove any debris and ensure a correct line; less vigorous than a sweep.
To purge a raw of any blemishes caused by the scanning process such as brown tinting and poor color contrast.
(video games) clean up
To remove guts and/or scales of a butchered animal.
Fully and completely.
He was stabbed clean through.
You must be clean mad.
Free from dirt or filth; as, clean clothes.
Free from that which is useless or injurious; without defects; as, clean land; clean timber.
Free from awkwardness; not bungling; adroit; dexterous; as, a clean trick; a clean leap over a fence.
Free from errors and vulgarisms; as, a clean style.
Free from restraint or neglect; complete; entire.
When ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of corners of thy field.
Free from moral defilement; sinless; pure.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
That I am whole, and clean, and meet for Heaven
Free from ceremonial defilement.
Free from that which is corrupting to the morals; pure in tone; healthy.
Well-proportioned; shapely; as, clean limbs.
Without limitation or remainder; quite; perfectly; wholly; entirely.
All the people were passed clean over Jordan.
Without miscarriage; not bunglingly; dexterously.
To render clean; to free from whatever is foul, offensive, or extraneous; to purify; to cleanse.
A weightlift in which the barbell is lifted to shoulder height and then jerked overhead
Make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from;
Clean the stove!
The dentist cleaned my teeth
Remove unwanted substances from, such as feathers or pits;
Clean the turkey
Clean and tidy up the house;
She housecleans every week
Clean one's body or parts thereof, as by washing;
Clean up before you see your grandparents
Clean your fingernails before dinner
Be cleanable;
This stove cleans easily
Deprive wholly of money in a gambling game, robbery, etc.;
The other players cleaned him completely
Remove all contents or possession from, or empty completely;
The boys cleaned the sandwich platters
The trees were cleaned of apples by the storm
Remove while making clean;
Clean the spots off the rug
Remove unwanted substances from
Remove shells or husks from;
Clean grain before milling it
Free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits;
Children with clean shining faces
Clean white shirts
Clean dishes
A spotlessly clean house
Cats are clean animals
Free of restrictions or qualifications;
A clean bill of health
A clear winner
(of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims;
Efforts to obtain a clean bass in orchestral recordings
Clear laughter like a waterfall
Clear reds and blues
A light lilting voice like a silver bell
Free from impurities;
Clean water
Fresh air
Without difficulties or problems;
A clean test flight
Ritually clean or pure
Not spreading pollution or contamination; especially radioactive contamination;
A clean fuel
Cleaner and more efficient engines
The tactical bomb is reasonably clean
(of behavior or especially language) free from objectionable elements; fit for all observers;
Good clean fun
A clean joke
Free from sepsis or infection;
A clean (or uninfected) wound
Morally pure;
Led a clean life
(of a manuscript) having few alterations or corrections;
Fair copy
A clean manuscript
Of a surface; not written or printed on;
Blank pages
Fill in the blank spaces
A clean page
Wide white margins
Marked by or calling for sportsmanship or fair play;
A clean fight
A sporting solution of the disagreement
Sportsmanlike conduct
Thorough and without qualification;
A clean getaway
A clean sweep
A clean break
(of a record) having no marks of discredit or offense;
A clean voting recor
A clean driver's license
Not carrying concealed weapons
Free from clumsiness; precisely or deftly executed;
He landed a clean left on his opponent's cheek
A clean throw
The neat exactness of the surgeon's knife
Free of drugs;
After a long dependency on heroin she has been clean for 4 years
Completely; used as intensifiers;
Clean forgot the appointment
I'm plumb (or plum) tuckered out
In conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or cheating;
They played fairly
Free from dirt, marks, or unwanted matter.
The windows were sparkling clean after she washed them.
Simple or unembellished; straightforward.
The design of the app is clean and user-friendly.
Free from pollutants or harmful substances; environmentally sound.
They promote the use of clean energy like solar and wind power.
To clear or empty a space by removing items that are not in use or are unnecessary.
It's time to clean out the garage and get rid of old junk.
Morally uncontaminated; pure.
His intentions were clean, without any hidden motives.
Clean Snonyms
Unsoiled
Not soiled; not dirtied or stained.
His reputation is unsoiled despite the rumors.
Pristine
In its original condition; unspoiled.
The wilderness area remains pristine due to strict conservation laws.
Sanitize
To make clean and hygienic by reducing germs to a safe level.
They sanitize the gym equipment every few hours.
Polish
To make smooth and shiny by rubbing or chemical action.
He polished the silverware until it shone.
Clear
To remove items that obstruct or clutter a space.
They cleared the area to set up the stage.
Spotless
Completely clean; without any spots.
The hotel room was spotless when we arrived.
Tidy
To arrange neatly; to make orderly.
She tidied up the living room before her guests arrived.
Sterile
Free from bacteria or other living microorganisms; totally clean.
Surgical instruments must be sterile to prevent infection.
Fresh
Clean and pure; not stale or spoiled.
The fresh air after the rain felt invigorating.
Unblemished
Free from physical or moral spots or stains.
She maintained an unblemished record throughout her career.
Clean Idioms & Phrases
Clean slate
A fresh start, free from past mistakes.
This new job is a clean slate for her.
Make a clean sweep
To win all that is available or achieve complete success.
The team made a clean sweep at the awards ceremony.
Keep your nose clean
To stay out of trouble or avoid wrongdoing.
He’s been keeping his nose clean since he got the new job.
Wipe the slate clean
To forget past disagreements or mistakes.
Let's wipe the slate clean and start over.
Clean up your act
To start behaving in a more acceptable manner.
You need to clean up your act if you want to stay in this school.
Clean as a whistle
Very clean or pure.
The new car is clean as a whistle.
Come clean
To confess; to be honest about something.
It's time you came clean about what happened.
Clean bill of health
A declaration or confirmation of good health or normal functioning.
The doctor gave him a clean bill of health.
Clean house
To make drastic reforms or changes.
The new manager cleaned house to improve efficiency.
In clean hands
Morally irreproachable; not tainted.
He came into the negotiation with clean hands.
Clean break
A complete and final separation from something or someone.
She made a clean break from her past.
Clean Example Sentences
We need to clean out the fridge before we buy more groceries.
His clean driving record made him the ideal candidate for the job.
Please clean up after the party.
The surgeon needs clean instruments for the operation.
They are committed to promoting clean energy solutions.
She always keeps her desk neat and clean.
She prefers everything clean and organized.
The laboratory conditions are extremely clean.
Clean your room before you go outside.
He managed to keep his reputation clean despite the scandal.
Ensure the data is clean before running the analysis.
I admire the clean lines of modern architecture.
Let's have a clean start for the new year.
They made a clean cut through the material.
The ocean near the resort was beautifully clean and clear.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called clean?
The term "clean" comes from the Old English "clǣne," which means free from dirt or pollution, and possibly from Proto-Germanic *klainiz, meaning clear or pure.
What is the pronunciation of clean?
Clean is pronounced as /kliːn/.
How do we divide clean into syllables?
Clean is divided as: clean.
How is clean used in a sentence?
"Clean" can be used as an adjective, verb, or noun, e.g., He keeps his car very clean; Please clean the kitchen; They strive for a clean environment.
What is the root word of clean?
The root word of "clean" is the Old English "clǣne."
How many syllables are in clean?
There is one syllable in "clean."
What is the third form of clean?
The third form is "cleaned."
What is a stressed syllable in clean?
The only syllable in "clean" is stressed: clean.
What is the verb form of clean?
The verb forms of "clean" are "clean" (present), "cleaned" (past), and "cleaned" (past participle).
What is the opposite of clean?
The opposite of clean (as an adjective) is "dirty."
Is clean an abstract noun?
"Clean" as a noun is not typically considered abstract; it refers more directly to an act or state of being free from dirt or contaminants.
What is the first form of clean?
The first form is "clean."
What is another term for clean?
Another term for "clean" is "spotless" as an adjective, or "sanitize" as a verb.
Is clean an adverb?
No, "clean" is not an adverb.
What part of speech is clean?
"Clean" can be an adjective, verb, or noun.
Is clean a noun or adjective?
"Clean" is both an adjective and a verb, and can occasionally function as a noun in contexts like "a clean" meaning an act of cleaning.
Is clean a vowel or consonant?
"Clean" starts with a consonant.
Is clean a collective noun?
No, "clean" is not a collective noun.
Which vowel is used before clean?
A vowel is not specifically used before "clean," but an article like "a" can precede it, e.g., "a clean surface."
What is the singular form of clean?
The singular form is "clean."
Is clean a countable noun?
When used as a noun, "clean" is generally uncountable, as in the concept of cleanliness. However, when referring to specific acts of cleaning, it can be considered countable, e.g., several cleans.
Is the word clean Gerund?
"Cleaning" is the gerund form of the verb "clean."
Which preposition is used with clean?
Prepositions such as "of" and "from" are commonly used with "clean," e.g., "clean of debris," "clean from stains."
Which article is used with clean?
The articles "a" and "the" are used with "clean," depending on whether the noun it modifies is specific or general, e.g., "a clean record," "the clean water."
What is the second form of clean?
The second form is "cleaned."
What is the plural form of clean?
The plural form is "cleans" when used as a verb; as an adjective or noun, "clean" does not change.
Is clean a negative or positive word?
"Clean" generally has a positive connotation, associated with neatness and purity.
Is the word “clean” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Clean" can function as a direct object, e.g., "She does a clean every weekend."
Which conjunction is used with clean?
Conjunctions such as "and" or "but" can be used with "clean," e.g., "clean and neat," "clean but worn."
Is the clean term a metaphor?
"Clean" can be used metaphorically, especially in expressions like "clean slate," which means starting anew without any past mistakes or burdens.
Is the word clean imperative?
"Clean" can be used in the imperative mood when giving a command, e.g., "Clean your room!"
Which determiner is used with clean?
Determiners such as "a," "the," and "your" can be used with "clean," depending on its usage, e.g., "a clean environment," "the clean dishes," "keep your shirt clean."
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
