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Definition of clean
1a : free from dirt or pollution changed to clean clothes clean solar energyb : free from contamination or disease a clean woundc : free or relatively free from radioactivity a clean atomic explosion
2a : unadulterated, pure the clean thrill of one's first flightb of a precious stone : having no interior flaws visiblec : free from growth that hinders tillage clean farmland
3a : free from moral corruption or sinister connections of any kind a candidate with a clean record; also : free from violations a clean driving recordb : free from offensive treatment of sexual subjects and from the use of obscenity a clean jokec : observing the rules : fair a clean fight
4 : ceremonially or spiritually pure and all who are clean may eat flesh — Leviticus 7:19 (Revised Standard Version)
5a : thorough, complete a clean break with the pastb : deftly executed : skillful clean ballet technique The gymnast made a clean landing.c : hit beyond the reach of an opponent a clean single to center
6a : relatively free from error or blemish : clear; specifically : legible clean copyb : unencumbered clean bill of sale
7a : characterized by clarity and precision : trim a clean prose style architecture with clean almost austere linesb : even, smooth a clean edge a sharp blow causing a clean breakc : free from external hindrances to smooth flow (as of water or air) a clean airplane a ship with a clean bottom
8a : empty the ship returned with a clean holdb : free from drug addiction has been clean for six monthsc slang : having no contraband (such as weapons or drugs) in one's possession All visitors to the prison are searched to make sure they're clean.d of a computer : not having anything added by a user installed the software on a clean computer
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Examples of clean in a Sentence
This table isn't clean. There's a sticky spot where something spilled.
He keeps a very clean house.
The janitor does a good job of keeping the office clean.
I wiped the baby's face clean.
He's a clean young man.
Cats are very clean animals.
Solar power provides clean energy.
Recent Examples of clean from the Web
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In May 2014 the BJP won a landslide election victory with promises of a smaller, cleaner and more effective state.
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The new ones are cleaner, safer, better lit, Anthony said.
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A few-thousand volunteers, including Ammar's group, are helping clean debris from the roads and important buildings, including hospitals.
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Queen of minimalist beauty Shailene Woodley might typically prefer clean skin and a radiant glow over all else, but not every day.
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Cincinnati has one of the highest child poverty rates in the country, and more than 16,600 babies and toddlers in Greater Cincinnati do not have enough diapers to keep them clean, dry, and healthy.
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His music was never too loud, his room always clean and orderly.
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Lawmakers also approved the first stage of a bill that will allow the men to have their criminal records wiped clean, legislation that comes four years after the South Pacific nation legalized same-sex marriage.
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According to Hackett, most of the effects of altitude on asthma are usually related to the cleaner air and lack of allergens, which mean fewer triggers for attacks.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'clean.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of clean
Middle English clene, from Old English clǣne; akin to Old High German kleini delicate, dainty
clean
Definition of clean
1a : so as to clean a new broom sweeps cleanb : in a clean manner play the game clean
2 : all the way : completely the bullet went clean through his arm
Examples of clean in a Sentence
Somehow, the top of the machine came clean off.
The nail went clean through the wall.
The fish were jumping clean out of the water.
Origin and Etymology of clean
see 1clean
clean
Definition of clean
transitive verb
1a : to make clean: such as (1) : to rid of dirt, impurities, or extraneous matter clean a wound (2) : to rid of corruption vowing to clean up city hallb : remove, eradicate —usually used with up or off clean up that mess
2a : strip, empty a tree cleaned of fruitb : to remove the entrails from clean fishc : 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 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
Examples of clean in a Sentence
The carpet needs to be cleaned.
They divide household duties so that she cleans and her husband cooks.
They cleaned the fish and cooked them on the campfire.
skin and clean a rabbit
Recent Examples of clean from the Web
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Nobody should have to clean up anybody else’s mess in this world.
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Avis workers will clean the vans’ interiors, change their oil, rotate their tires and perform other basic upkeep.
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Busy days yield upwards of 80 drop-offs, often from celebs like Lupe Fiasco and Swaggy P. With more than 20,000 pairs cleaned, the store is getting its kicks.
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Monday marked the first game back at Safeco Field for McClendon — now the hitting coach for the Detroit Tigers — since he was let go by Seattle after the team named Jerry DiPoto as general manager and cleaned house following a 76-86 record in 2015.
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Santos had stayed in touch with his mother, who had found work cleaning hotel rooms in Kentucky, remarried and given birth to three American children.
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An Illinois State Police report later showed Markham's gun was caked in blood, including inside the barrel, which had to be cleaned before the weapon could be test-fired by the state police crime lab.
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As the country’s biggest online retailer of cleaning supplies and home goods, Amazon competes with Walmart, Target, and Bed, Bath & Beyond.
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The mayor said once the site is cleaned to residential standards, the city will begin seeking input on potential future uses of the land.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'clean.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of clean
see 1clean
clean
Definition of clean
: an act of cleaning dirt especially from the surface of something She gave the tub a good clean.
Recent Examples of clean from the Web
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In this file photo, BMW team members in South Carolina clean and check finished cars in the finish line.
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Pier clean-up: The Anglin's Pier Underwater Clean-up is June 24 in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.
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City Attorney Mara Elliott has also raised concerns that the measure doesn’t guarantee San Diego a professional soccer stadium or a river park, and could burden taxpayers with hefty costs for environmental clean-up.
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The village also had to remove asbestos, demolish the buildings, complete the environmental clean-up, test the soil, survey the land and vacate Church Street, for a total cost of $3,371,600, according to information from the village.
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In the town of Juchitan last month, a clean-up was under way around a generator owned by Electricite de France.
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Every day, a tool Oscar built ingests, cleans, and updates thousands of fields with the latest information on the doctors in the network—who’s no longer seeing patients, who’s had a rash of complaints.
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Preparations for the celebration start Friday at 4 p.m. with a volunteer clean-up at the lot.
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Medicine cabinet clean-out Prevent prescription medication abuse and accidental poisoning by dropping your medication off at police stations.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'clean.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of clean
see 1clean
CLEAN Defined for English Language Learners
clean
playDefinition of clean for English Language Learners
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: free from dirt, marks, etc. : not dirty
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: tending to keep clean
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: free from pollution or other dangerous substances
clean
Definition of clean for English Language Learners
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: all the way : completely or entirely
clean
Definition of clean for English Language Learners
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: to make (something) clean : to remove dirt, marks, etc., from (something)
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: to become clean
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: to make (something, such as a room) neat and orderly
clean
Definition of clean for English Language Learners
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: an act of removing dirt from something
CLEAN Defined for Kids
Definition of clean for Students
cleaner
;cleanest
1 : free of dirt or pollution clean air Put on a clean shirt.
2 : not yet used Use a clean sheet of paper.
3 : not involving or showing involvement with anything wrong or illegal good, clean fun I've got a clean record.
4 : not offensive a clean joke
5 : thorough 1 She made a clean break with the past.
6 : having a simple graceful form : trim The ship has clean lines.
7 : 1smooth 1 The knife made a clean cut.
cleanly
\ˈklēn-lē\ adverbDefinition of clean for Students
: all the way : completely The nail went clean through. Birds picked the bones clean.
Definition of clean for Students
cleaned
;cleaning
: to make or become free of dirt or disorder I cleaned my room. Please clean up for supper.
cleaner
nounMedical Dictionary
Medical Definition of clean
1a: free from dirt or pollutionb: free from disease or infectious agents a pullorum-clean flock keep installations clean of TB infection
2: free from smudges or anything that tends to obscure a clean set of fingerprints
3of a horse's leg : free from curbs or bunches below the hock
4: free from drug addiction
clean
Medical Definition of clean
1: to brush (the teeth) with a cleanser (as a dentifrice)
2: to perform dental prophylaxis on (the teeth)
Law Dictionary
clean
Legal Definition of clean
: free of amendments or annotations
Learn More about clean
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for clean Spanish Central: Translation of clean Nglish: Translation of clean for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of clean for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about clean
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