clean
clean
adjective
/kliːn/
(comparative cleaner, superlative cleanest)
not dirty
1 not dirty
Are your hands clean?
She wiped all the surfaces clean.
(British English) It is your responsibility to keep the room clean and tidy.
(North American English) Keep your room neat and clean.
I can't find a clean shirt (= one I haven't worn since it was washed).
The hotel was spotlessly (= extremely) clean.
The council does a good job keeping the streets clean.
I scrubbed the floor to get it clean.
Is your room clean and tidy now?
It's almost clean. I just have to wipe the table.
Please leave the kitchen clean.
The bathroom doesn't stay clean for long.
The room smelled clean and fresh.
The whole house was spotlessly clean.
You're supposed to keep your room clean.
He wiped his plate clean with a piece of bread.
SEE ALSO squeaky clean
Collocations
verb
be
look
seem
adverb
extremely
fairly
very
phrases
clean and tidy
neat and clean
lovely and clean
2 having a clean appearance and living in clean conditions
Cats are very clean animals.
not harmful
3 free from harmful or unpleasant substances
clean water/air
Thousands were left without food or clean drinking water.
clean energy
We all want a cleaner environment but who is going to pay for it?
cleaner cars (= not producing so many harmful substances)
Electric buses are a clean, environmentally friendly way to travel.
The water was lovely and clean.
Fiscal incentives will be introduced to encourage the use of cleaner cars.
TOPICS The environment A1
paper
4 ​usually before noun with nothing written on it
a clean sheet of paper
not offensive
5 ​not offensive or referring to sex; not doing anything that is considered bad or wrong
The entertainment was good clean fun for the whole family.
Keep the jokes clean please!
The sport has a very clean image.
not illegal
6 ​not showing or having any record of doing something that is against the law
a clean driving licence/driver’s license
a clean police record
7 ​not usually before noun (informal) not owning or carrying anything illegal such as drugs or weapons
The police searched her but she was clean.
​8 not usually before noun (informal) not having taken drugs or alcohol
He's been clean for three weeks.
fair
9 ​played or done in a fair way and within the rules
It was a tough but clean game.
smooth/simple
10 ​having a smooth edge, surface or shape; simple and regular
A sharp knife makes a clean cut.
a modern design with clean lines and a bright appearance
accurate
11 ​done with skill and in an accurate way
The plane made a clean take-off.
document/software
12 ​with no changes or mistakes in it
I do my utmost to produce clean copy, but occasionally a mistake slips in.
It backs up data frequently, keeping a clean copy of your work.
taste/smell
13 ​tasting, smelling or looking pleasant and fresh
The wine has a clean taste and a lovely golden colour.
COMPARE unclean
Idioms
as clean as a whistle
a clean bill of health
a clean break
a clean sheet/slate
(make) a clean sweep (of something)
come clean (with somebody) (about something)
keep your nose clean
make a clean breast of something
wipe the slate clean
Word Origin
Old English clǣne, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German klein ‘small’.