clean

clean1 [ klin ] adjective ***

▸ 1 not dirty

▸ 2 not guilty/illegal/wrong

▸ 3 smooth/regular/neat

▸ 4 light and fresh

▸ 5 without writing/errors

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) not dirty:

Go and put on a clean shirt.

nice clean towels

spotlessly clean: Everything in the house was spotlessly clean.

neat and clean: I like to keep the place neat and clean.

brush/scrub/sweep/wash/wipe etc. something clean: Tom had scrubbed the floor clean.

a ) clean people and animals keep themselves and the places where they live clean:

Pigs are actually very clean animals.

b ) clean air or water has no dirty or dangerous substances in it:

Many refugees are living in appalling conditions, without clean water and proper sanitation.

the clean country air

c ) clean machines and processes do not create much pollution:

clean technologies

We already have the cleanest diesel fuel in the world.

2. ) not guilty of anything illegal or wrong:

an attempt by the government to project a clean image

Why couldn't the president send somebody with a totally clean record?

a ) clean language or humor does not offend people, especially because it does not involve sex:

It was all good clean fun.

keep it clean (=not say anything offensive): Keep it clean there are children listening.

b ) fair and done according to the rules:

It was a good clean fight.

c ) INFORMAL not carrying anything illegal:

The police stopped him, but he was clean.

d ) INFORMAL no longer using illegal drugs:

Carter's been clean for six months.

3. ) clean shapes, lines, or movements are smooth, regular, or neat:

the clean lines of a good design

4. ) clean smells, tastes, and colors are light and fresh:

The wine is clean and fresh, though with a robust flavor.

5. ) a clean piece of paper does not have anything written on it

a ) a clean copy of a document has had all the mistakes in it corrected

a clean bill of health

a statement that someone is healthy or that something is operating correctly or is in good condition:

give someone/something a clean bill of health: After a thorough investigation, the department was given a clean bill of health.

a clean break

1. ) a sudden complete end to something such as a relationship or a period of time spent in a place:

make a clean break: After the divorce, I decided to make a clean break and moved to a new town.

2. ) a break in a bone into just two pieces along a straight line

a clean slate

a situation in which everything bad or wrong that you have done in the past is forgiven or forgotten, and you can make a new start:

start/begin with a clean slate/sheet: Firms often want to start with a clean slate when setting up a new subsidiary.

a clean sweep

1. ) a situation in which one person or team wins all the prizes or all the different parts in a competition:

The United States had a clean sweep in the 100 meters.

2. ) a new start after getting rid of old methods, ideas, or staff

come clean

to tell the truth about something that you have kept secret:

come clean about/on/over: It is time for the Republicans to come clean on their plans for new taxes.

come clean with: It was time to come clean with my mother.

make a clean breast of something

to tell the truth about something wrong that you have done so that you can stop feeling guilty about it

=> NOSE1, SQUEAKY CLEAN, WHISTLE1

clean

clean 2 [ klin ] verb ***

1. ) transitive to remove the dirt from something:

Paul's cleaning his car.

Do you want the windows cleaned?

clean something off something: I cleaned the mud off my shoes.

2. ) intransitive or transitive to remove the dirt and dust in a house or other building:

We've cleaned the house from top to bottom.

I spent the morning cleaning.

a ) intransitive or transitive to clean houses or buildings as a job:

His mother supported the family by cleaning offices.

clean for: The woman who cleans for me has the flu.

3. ) transitive to remove the inside parts of an animal, bird, or fish before cooking it

clean someone's clock AMERICAN

to defeat someone badly in a fight or competition

clean your plate AMERICAN

to eat all of the food on your plate

,clean `out phrasal verb transitive

1. ) to make a place or container clean or neat by removing objects that are not wanted and getting rid of any dirt or dust in it:

They spent the day cleaning out the garage.

a ) to remove objects from a place or container in order to make it neat:

I've cleaned out all the junk from the cellar.

2. ) INFORMAL to empty a place of objects or goods, especially by stealing or buying them in large quantities:

Government soldiers moved in and cleaned the village out.

The supermarkets were cleaned out by panicking shoppers.

3. ) INFORMAL to use all of your money:

This will clean me out. I'll have to sell the house.

,clean `up phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive or transitive to make a place completely clean and neat:

We really ought to make a start on getting this place cleaned up.

I'm going to clean up in here this afternoon.

a ) transitive to remove objects from a place in order to make it completely clean and neat:

Joe can clean up the mess.

2. ) transitive to wash someone who is dirty:

Come into the bathroom and I'll get you cleaned up.

I cleaned myself up and got ready for dinner.

3. ) intransitive INFORMAL to make a lot of money:

He really cleaned up on the stock market.

4. ) transitive to stop bad, unfair, or criminal behavior in a place or activity:

Is there the political will to clean up the banking system?

a campaign to clean up the city's streets

5. ) transitive to remove pollution from a place or an industrial process:

We need a systematic plan for identifying and cleaning up waste sites.

clean up your act INFORMAL

to start behaving in a more appropriate and sensible way

,clean `up ,after phrasal verb transitive

clean up after someone to clean a place after someone has made it dirty or messy:

Residents have been told to clean up after their dogs.

clean

clean 3 [ klin ] adverb INFORMAL

used for emphasizing that something happens completely:

clean through/off/out etc.: The bullet passed clean through his chest.

The blast blew the windows clean out of the building.

clean forgot: I was so worried about you, I clean forgot to feel sorry for myself.

clean

clean 4 [ klin ] noun singular BRITISH

an occasion when you clean something