Main Entry: ³clean

Function: verb

Date: 15th century

transitive verb

1 a : to make clean: as (1) : to rid of dirt, impurities, or extraneous matter (2) : to rid of corruption <vowing to clean up city hall> b : remove, eradicate —usually used with up or off <clean up that mess>
2 a : strip, empty <a tree cleaned of fruit> b : to remove the entrails from <clean fish> c : to deprive of money or possessions —often used with out <they cleaned him out completely>intransitive verb : to undergo or perform a process of cleaning <clean up before dinner>

— clean·abil·i·ty \ˌklē-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— clean·able \ˈklē-nə-bəl\ adjective

— clean house 1 : to clean a house and its furniture
2 : to make sweeping reforms or changes (as of personnel)

— clean one's clock : to beat one badly in a fight or competition

— clean up one's act : to behave in a more acceptable manner