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

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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

An app that tells you if that one set of underwear is clean. — Amanda Shapiro, Bon Appétit, "A Place to Date," 6 June 2019 Get back to basics and commit to eating clean and lean (think fish, egg whites, steamed or grilled vegetables, and good fats such as avocado). — Kimberly Garrison, https://www.inquirer.com, "Slim down for summer the healthy way | Kimberly Garrison," 4 June 2019 Indianapolis and Hamilton County river clean-ups (register online); Drop-in art activity with Indiana Humanities. — Sarah Bowman, Indianapolis Star, "The future of the White River is in your hands. Here's what you need to know.," 4 June 2019 An Uber to the city center from the airport might set you back $50, whereas the very clean and easy-to-understand bus option only costs about 5 euros. — Jaimie Potters, Marie Claire, "Where to Stay, Eat, and Explore in Amsterdam," 29 May 2019 Malin and Berry agreed that the rooms would be clean and classic, designed to grow up with the children. — Shoko Wanger, House Beautiful, "The Ultimate 90-Day Timeline for Designing a Nursery Suite," 27 May 2019 Whether the world shifts to cleaner energy, eats less meat, manages land better, pulls carbon dioxide out of the air, or sticks to business as usual will mean vastly degrees of future warming. — Umair Irfan, Vox, "Watch how the climate could change in these US cities by 2050," 24 May 2019 That's no surprise, as the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 with the 48-volt motor-generator, first seen in the 2020 GLS580, is a powerful and clean-burning engine with a future. — Clifford Atiyeh, Car and Driver, "he 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE580 Has a Hybrid V-8 More Powerful Than an AMG GT," 22 May 2019 This sealed unit is positioned between the cranks and minimizes drivetrain maintenance with just the chain to keep clean and lubed. — Bradley Ford, Popular Mechanics, "The Best Commuter Bikes for Any Commute," 16 May 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

Ryan Frashure said Cromwell Farms has received notices from the county zoning office about cleaning the property. — Luke Broadwater, baltimoresun.com, "Long-troubled Glen Burnie property under contract for sale," 7 June 2019 But these settings also include wading pools, toilet bowls, dog bowls, cleaning buckets and trenches and ditches, the state agency said. — Martha Ross, The Mercury News, "‘It can happen to anyone’: Drownings of Granger Smith and Bode Miller’s young children reveal dangers to kids," 7 June 2019 Volunteer with a work party and help clean the park. — oregonlive.com, "Homes and gardens events around Portland: Garden tours, workshops and more," 7 June 2019 Kids will learn how the center’s animal care team rehabilitates seals and sea lions by taking part in activities such as weighing fish, preparing fish smoothies and cleaning pens. — Daily Pilot Staff, latimes.com, "Around Town: Wooden Boat Festival coming to Newport Beach this weekend," 6 June 2019 This spill did not enter the lake and was cleaned and disinfected by 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. — Rachel Berry, Cincinnati.com, "'Fatberg' clogs pipes at Winton Woods causing sewage overflow; lake remains closed," 6 June 2019 The Shyn brush offers four cleaning modes and either three or five intensity levels on each of those modes. — Christopher Null, WIRED, "Which Toothbrush Subscription Service Is the Best?," 6 June 2019 Few things are better for your mental health than cleaning house. — Graham Techler, The New Yorker, "Self-Care Through the Ages," 5 June 2019 The camera was found when an employee was cleaning the restroom, where it was attached to the underside of a toilet lid. — Micah Walker, Detroit Free Press, "Hidden camera found inside Starbucks bathroom in Allen Park," 4 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

During the clean-up it was determined that more is needed, Deputy Public Works Manager Jim Hunt said. — Ryan Gillespie, orlandosentinel.com, "Orlando seeks $6 million in FEMA aid for flood-prone areas," 3 June 2019 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

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.