clean

adjective

\ ˈklēn

Definition of clean

(Entry 1 of 4)

1a : free from dirt or pollution changed to clean clothes clean solar energy

b : free from contamination or disease a clean wound

c : free or relatively free from radioactivity a clean atomic explosion

2a : unadulterated, pure the clean thrill of one's first flight

b of a precious stone : having no interior flaws visible

c : 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 record

b : free from offensive treatment of sexual subjects and from the use of obscenity a clean joke

c : 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 past

b : 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 copy

b : unencumbered clean bill of sale

7a : characterized by clarity and precision : trim a clean prose style architecture with clean almost austere lines

b : even, smooth a clean edge a sharp blow causing a clean break

c : 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 hold

b : free from drug addiction has been clean for six months

c 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

9 : habitually neat

clean

adverb

Definition of clean (Entry 2 of 4)

1a : so as to clean a new broom sweeps clean

b : in a clean manner play the game clean

2 : all the way : completely the bullet went clean through his arm

clean

verb

cleaned; cleaning; cleans

Definition of clean (Entry 3 of 4)

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 hall

b : remove, eradicate —usually used with up or off clean up that mess

2a : 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 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

clean

noun

Definition of clean (Entry 4 of 4)

: an act of cleaning dirt especially from the surface of something She gave the tub a good clean.

Other Words from clean Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about clean

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from clean

Adjective

cleanness \ ˈklēn-nəs

\ noun

Verb

cleanability \ ˌklē-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē

\ noun

cleanable \ ˈklē-nə-bəl

\ adjective

Examples of clean in a Sentence

Adjective

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.

Adverb

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.

Verb

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 on the Web: Adjective

Bake until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, 55 minutes to 1 hour. — Kate Merker, Country Living, "Chocolate-Matcha Swirl Pound Cake," 19 Mar. 2019 That doesn’t mean pedicures are off-limits for runners—in fact, if done the right way, a pedicure every now and then can keep your feet and nails clean and healthy. — Isadora Baum, SELF, "What All Runners Should Know Before Getting a Pedicure," 5 Mar. 2019 That includes the squirt bottle containing a mix of distilled water and soap that’s used to keep the tattoo clean during the session. — Lucy Diavolo, Teen Vogue, "A Tattoo Artist's Guide to Your First Tattoo," 2 Jan. 2019 Add to that the lives saved via cleaner air and water, along with fatalities avoided by mitigating warming. — Julia Belluz, Vox, "7 bad science and health ideas that should die with 2018," 26 Dec. 2018 The benefit to the district and to the children who have to be passengers on those buses is cleaner air and a quieter ride. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "The Big Yellow School Bus Is Going Green," 13 Nov. 2018 The notion of clean or natural beauty products is ill-defined across the industry, but within the confines of Whole Foods, product quality standards are front and center. — Leah Prinzivalli, Allure, "Whole Foods' Annual Beauty Week Event Has Arrived and Every Product Is on Sale," 12 Mar. 2019 Gelcream's photography aesthetic is unmistakable: clean and crisp product shots posed weightlessly in a slender hand. — Jenna Rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, "Instagram Beauty Sensation @Gelcream Shares Her Anti-Aging Secrets," 6 Mar. 2019 The North Face: Put clean apparel or footwear into an in-store collective bin and receive $10 off your purchase of $100 or more. — Woman's Day Staff, Woman's Day, "9 New Ways to Donate Your Clothes," 27 Feb. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb

Charlottesville has long outgrown its patrician Jeffersonian roots to become a mecca for artists and musicians, youthful retirees, and clean-cut techies. — James Loeffler, WSJ, "The Struggle for Charlottesville," 10 Aug. 2018 In 2017, BART’s overtime spending systemwide rose by $2.2 million — but the department charged with keeping stations clean managed to cut its overtime by nearly $1 million, records show. — Michael Cabanatuan, San Francisco Chronicle, "BART reining in janitor overtime after public fallout," 30 Apr. 2018 And that required relying on an image of the Kennedys as upstanding, clean-cut, even glamorous public servants. — Alissa Wilkinson, Vox, "The Kennedy family built up a public mythology. TV and movies are taking it apart.," 9 Apr. 2018 Finch, who is remarkably clean-cut for an unwashed anarcho-punk, represents freedom, sexuality and a comfortable racial identity. — Elisabeth Vincentelli, New York Times, "Review: Deirdre O’Connell Loses Her Grip on Reality in ‘Terminus’," 20 Feb. 2018 Derrick Cardosi, 25, was clean-cut and wearing a white dress shirt and slacks when he was led into Newton County Superior Judge Daniel J. Molter's courtroom Monday by his attorney, Harry Falk. — Carrie Napoleon, Post-Tribune, "Jury selection begins in Sumava Resorts stabbing deaths trial," 29 Jan. 2018 An unknown person attempted to open the floor clean-out drain in the men's bathroom at Oct. 6 at 11:41 a.m. from Elm Grove Village Park, 13600 Juneau Blvd. — Karen Pilarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Brookfield-Elm Grove Police Report: Woman refuses to leave drive-thru due to lack of napkin," 12 Oct. 2017 The build-up has been light on trash talk, with Parker living up to his image of being clean-cut and courteous. — USA TODAY, "Heavyweight champ Parker hits the road to boost profile," 21 Sep. 2017 Suave, clean-cut, and well-spoken, Macron the candidate seemed like the product of a centrist basement lab. — Sarah Jones, New Republic, "Emmanuel Macron Is No Model For Democrats," 25 Aug. 2017

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

When Sameer Khan’s grandmother was killed in Afghanistan after the American invasion, his family swiftly cleaned her body and buried her within a day on the outskirts of Kabul. — Lucy Craymer, WSJ, "As Funerals Begin, Families of New Zealand Attack Victims Wait in Anguish," 19 Mar. 2019 Clearly Netflix is cleaning house, since this follows surprise cancellations in October of Iron Fist and Luke Cage. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "The bloodbath continues: Netflix cancels Daredevil after three seasons," 30 Nov. 2018 Once the scene cleared, neighbors helped clean the deck, KSDK reported. — Kaitlyn Schwers, kansascity, "After killing his wife, he stood over her body for hours on his deck, Missouri cops say," 13 July 2018 During the closure, SEPTA workers and third-party contractors will be cleaning the stations and completing maintenance work, including upgrades to the tracks, signals and power systems. — Katherine Nails, Philly.com, "SEPTA's Center City trolley tunnel to close for 9-day maintenance 'blitz'," 12 July 2018 Weiss had cleaned the reel and spooled it with new line. — Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Smith: Extraordinary musky fishing tale, verified and true, comes to happy ending," 11 July 2018 Cleanse minor injuries thoroughly with plain soap and water (clean your hands first). — Cliff Kapono, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Basic CPR and First aid procedures," 8 July 2018 The four economists painstakingly cleaned and coded hundreds of these surveys spanning nearly 90 years. — Susan Dynarski, New York Times, "Fresh Proof That Strong Unions Help Reduce Income Inequality," 6 July 2018 The Season Two finale really cleaned house on the core Westworld cast. — Scott Meslow, GQ, "Westworld Finale: Let's Break Down Every Bonkers Thing That Happened," 25 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Or sweep a yard clean, moving downhill blasting out flower beds, corners, and working down steps and around or through every obstacle. — Ryan D'agostino, Popular Mechanics, "We Test the Very Best Leaf Blowers You Can Buy," 5 Nov. 2018 Set up a comfortable place to study Your child should have a clean, well lit, comfortable space for homework. — Mary Caldwell, ajc, "6 tips to help get your kid in back-to-school mode," 12 July 2018 The inserts are periodically shipped off for deep cleans, and are discarded when the fabric is soiled, worn or faded, Sotero said. — Laura J. Nelson, latimes.com, "Goodbye, upholstery. Hello, vinyl: L.A. Metro is phasing out some of its infamous fabric seats," 10 July 2018 Ramblers Way wool is created to be worn year-round and is crafted to produce a clean, smooth and tightly knit yarn that's free of the usual fiber ends that cause you to itch. — Debbie Carlson, chicagotribune.com, "'Grown and sewn in the U.S.': It’s getting easier to buy completely American-made clothing and home goods," 25 June 2018 These students, who have made this very brave commitment to make aliyah on their own, need a clean, safe and comfortable place to live and study. — Marvin Glassman, Jewish Journal, "Artwork auctioned at event honoring Israel's 70th anniversary," 21 June 2018 This means only using fabric softener prevents you from getting a heavy-duty clean, regardless of how good your clothes smell afterward. — Danielle Tullo, House Beautiful, "PSA: This Is the Real Difference Between Laundry Detergent and Fabric Softener," 4 June 2018 And, if at all possible, a clean, dry silver julep cup. — Ann Maloney, NOLA.com, "A mint julep recipe for a slow, hot summer day from Chris McMillian," 30 May 2018 For a deeper clean, turn it over and rotate the ball-cover ring counter clockwise to get the ball out. — Paul Sarconi, WIRED, "How to Clean Your Computer Inside and Out," 24 Apr. 2018

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.

First Known Use of clean

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

circa 1889, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for clean

Adjective

Middle English clene, going back to Old English clǣne "free from impurities or dirt, unblemished," going back to West Germanic *klainja- (whence also Old Saxon klēni "slender, perceptive," Middle Dutch cleine, clēne "of superior quality, elegant, slender, small," Old High German kleini, chleine "fine, delicate, clever"), of uncertain origin

Note: On the grounds that Low German klīn and Swiss German khlii, with an ablaut grade *klīn-, require a verbal origin, a base *klein-/*klain-/klin- has been suggested, whence Old Norse klína "to smear, butter (bread)," Old High German giklenan "to stroke, smear," from Indo-European *glei̯H- "smear, make stick" (whence, also with a nasal present formation, Old Irish glenaid "(it) adheres, cleaves," Welsh glynu "to stick, adhere"; cf. clay). This derivation would imply for the Germanic adjective an original meaning "smeared on well, carefully applied," hence "well crafted, of superior quality" > "free of impurities, fine, delicate" > "small" (see F. Heidermanns, Etymologisches Wörterbuch der germanischen Primäradjektiven, Berlin, 1993). The earlier proposal of a connection with Indo-European *gel- "bright, shining," is improbable, as none of the descendants of Germanic *klainja- have this meaning.