clean

/kleːn/

Looking for the meaning of clean? Explore definitions, parts of speech, and usage examples below.

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noun
01

Removal of dirt.

This place needs a clean.

02

The first part of the event clean and jerk in which the weight is brought from the ground to the shoulders.

verb
01

To remove dirt from a place or object.

Can you clean the windows today?

02

To tidy up, make a place neat.

Clean your room right now!

03

To remove equipment from a climbing route after it was previously lead climbed.

04

To make things clean in general.

She just likes to clean. That’s why I married her.

05

To remove unnecessary files, etc. from (a directory, etc.).

06

To brush the ice lightly in front of a moving rock to remove any debris and ensure a correct line; less vigorous than a sweep.

07

To purge a raw of any blemishes caused by the scanning process such as brown tinting and poor color contrast.

08

To remove guts and/or scales of a butchered animal.

adjective
01

(heading, physical) Free of dirt or impurities or protruberances.

02

(heading, behavioural) Free of immorality or criminality.

03

Smooth, exact, and performed well

I’ll need a sharper knife to make clean cuts.  a clean leap over a fence

04

Total; utter. (still in "clean sweep")

05

Cool or neat.

Wow, Dude, those are some clean shoes ya got there!

06

(health) Being free of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

I want to make sure my fiancé is clean before we are married.

07

That does not damage the environment.

clean energy;  clean coal

08

Free from that which is useless or injurious; without defects.

clean land;  clean timber

09

Free from restraint or neglect; complete; entire.

010

Well-proportioned; shapely.

clean limbs

011

(of a route) Ascended without falling.

SYNONYMS:clean
adverb
01

Fully and completely.

He was stabbed clean through.

Understanding "clean"

The word **"clean"** is a **noun** in the English language. It is phonetically pronounced as **/kleːn/**. Explore the detailed meaning, morphological structure, and usage examples for **"clean"** in our dictionary below.

The English language is incredibly vast, and diving into the definition of the word "clean" provides a perfect example of its linguistic depth. Categorized primarily as a noun, the term "clean" holds specific syntactical roles within a sentence, allowing speakers and writers to convey precise meaning. Understanding how this word functions is an excellent step towards mastering advanced English vocabulary and improving overall reading comprehension.

For those looking to perfect their spoken English, noting the phonetic pronunciation of "clean" is crucial. It is typically transcribed as /kleːn/. Proper enunciation ensures that your intended message is received clearly, preventing miscommunication in both formal and casual settings. Linguistic scholars often track the phonological evolution of words like "clean" to understand broader historical shifts in dialects and accents across different English-speaking populations.

When deciding how to use "clean" in everyday communication, it helps to look at exactly how it operates as a noun. In professional writing, academic essays, and creative literature, choosing the perfect vocabulary word can drastically elevate the tone of the text. Because "clean" carries its own unique connotations and denotations, swapping it for a simpler synonym might dilute the impact of your sentence.

Our comprehensive dictionary tool is designed to provide immediate, reliable definitions for thousands of terms, including "clean". By consistently exploring the nuances of vocabulary—including phonetics (/kleːn/), part of speech (noun), and usage examples—you can significantly expand your linguistic repertoire. Bookmark this page as a quick reference tool whenever you encounter "clean" in reading materials or wish to incorporate it into your active vocabulary.

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How do I use clean in a sentence?

Refer to the usage examples above to see how "clean" can be used in academic and casual conversations.