clean Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a weightlift in which the barbell is lifted to shoulder height and then jerked overhead
    clean and jerk.
  2. verb make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from
    make clean.
    • Clean the stove!
    • The dentist cleaned my teeth
  3. verb remove unwanted substances from, such as feathers or pits
    pick.
    • Clean the turkey
  4. verb clean and tidy up the house
    houseclean; clean house.
    • She housecleans every week
  5. verb clean one's body or parts thereof, as by washing
    cleanse.
    • clean up before you see your grandparents
    • clean your fingernails before dinner
  6. verb be cleanable
    • This stove cleans easily
  7. verb deprive wholly of money in a gambling game, robbery, etc.
    • The other players cleaned him completely
  8. verb remove all contents or possession from, or empty completely
    strip.
    • The boys cleaned the sandwich platters
    • The trees were cleaned of apples by the storm
  9. verb remove while making clean
    • Clean the spots off the rug
  10. verb remove unwanted substances from
    scavenge.
  11. verb remove shells or husks from
    • clean grain before milling it
  12. adjective 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
  13. adjective satellite free of restrictions or qualifications
    clear.
    • a clean bill of health
    • a clear winner
  14. adjective satellite (of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims
    light; clear; unclouded.
    • 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
  15. adjective satellite free from impurities
    fresh.
    • clean water
    • fresh air
  16. adjective satellite (of a record) having no marks of discredit or offense
    • a clean voting record
    • a clean driver's license
  17. adjective ritually clean or pure
  18. adjective not spreading pollution or contamination; especially radioactive contamination
    uncontaminating.
    • a clean fuel
    • cleaner and more efficient engines
    • the tactical bomb is reasonably clean
  19. adjective (of behavior or especially language) free from objectionable elements; fit for all observers
    unobjectionable.
    • good clean fun
    • a clean joke
  20. adjective satellite free from sepsis or infection
    uninfected.
    • a clean (or uninfected) wound
  21. adjective satellite morally pure
    clean-living.
    • led a clean life
  22. adjective satellite (of a manuscript) having few alterations or corrections
    fair.
    • fair copy
    • a clean manuscript
  23. adjective satellite (of a surface) not written or printed on
    white; blank.
    • blank pages
    • fill in the blank spaces
    • a clean page
    • wide white margins
  24. adjective satellite exhibiting or calling for sportsmanship or fair play
    sporting; sporty; sportsmanlike.
    • a clean fight
    • a sporting solution of the disagreement
    • sportsmanlike conduct
  25. adjective satellite without difficulties or problems
    • a clean test flight
  26. adjective satellite thorough and without qualification
    • a clean getaway
    • a clean sweep
    • a clean break
  27. adjective satellite not carrying concealed weapons
  28. adjective satellite free from clumsiness; precisely or deftly executed
    neat.
    • he landed a clean left on his opponent's cheek
    • a clean throw
    • the neat exactness of the surgeon's knife
  29. adjective satellite free of drugs
    • after a long dependency on heroin she has been clean for 4 years
  30. adverb completely; used as intensifiers
    plum; plumb.
    • clean forgot the appointment
    • I'm plumb (or plum) tuckered out
  31. adverb in conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or cheating
    fairly; fair.
    • they played fairly

WordNet

Clean adjective
Etymology
OE. clene, AS. clne; akin to OHG. chleini pure, neat, graceful, small, G. klein small, and perh. to W. glan clean, pure, bright; all perh. from a primitive, meaning bright, shining. Cf. Glair.
Wordforms
comparative Cleaner ; superlative Cleanest
Definitions
  1. Free from dirt or filth; as, clean clothes.
  2. Free from that which is useless or injurious; without defects; as, clean land; clean timber.
  3. Free from awkwardness; not bungling; adroit; dexterous; as, aclean trick; a clean leap over a fence.
  4. Free from errors and vulgarisms; as, a clean style.
  5. 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. Le.xxiii. 22
  6. Free from moral defilement; sinless; pure.
    Create in me a clean heart, O God. Ps. li. 10
    That I am whole, and clean, and meet for Heaven Tennyson.
  7. (Script.) Free from ceremonial defilement.
  8. Free from that which is corrupting to the morals; pure in tone; healthy. "Lothair is clean." F. Harrison.
  9. Well-proportioned; shapely; as, clean limbs.
Clean adverb
Definitions
  1. Without limitation or remainder; quite; perfectly; wholly; entirely. "Domestic broils clean overblown." Shak. "Clean contrary." Milton.
    All the people were passed clean over Jordan. Josh. iii. 17.
  2. Without miscarriage; not bunglingly; dexterously. Obs. "Pope came off clean with Homer." Henley.
Clean transitive verb
Etymology
See Clean, a., and cf. Cleanse.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Cleaned ; present participle & verbal noun Cleaning
Definitions
  1. To render clean; to free from whatever is foul, offensive, or extraneous; to purify; to cleanse. De Quincey.

Webster 1913