Clean Definition
clean
adverb
- completely; used as intensifiers; "clean forgot the appointment"; "I'm plumb (or plum) tuckered out"
- in conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or cheating; "they played fairly"
adjective
- free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits; "children with clean shining faces"; "clean white shirts"; "clean dishes"; "a spotlessly clean house"; "cats are clean animals"
- free of restrictions or qualifications; "a clean bill of health"; "a clear winner"
- (of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims; "efforts to obtain a clean bass in orchestral recordings"; "clear laughter like a waterfall"; "clear reds and blues"; "a light lilting voice like a silver bell"
- free from impurities; "clean water"; "fresh air"
- (of a record) having no marks of discredit or offense; "a clean voting record"; "a clean driver's license"
- ritually clean or pure
- not spreading pollution or contamination; especially radioactive contamination; "a clean fuel"; "cleaner and more efficient engines"; "the tactical bomb is reasonably clean"
- (of behavior or especially language) free from objectionable elements; fit for all observers; "good clean fun"; "a clean joke"
- free from sepsis or infection; "a clean (or uninfected) wound"
- morally pure; "led a clean life"
- (of a manuscript) having few alterations or corrections; "fair copy"; "a clean manuscript"
- (of a surface) not written or printed on; "blank pages"; "fill in the blank spaces"; "a clean page"; "wide white margins"
- exhibiting or calling for sportsmanship or fair play; "a clean fight"; "a sporting solution of the disagreement"; "sportsmanlike conduct"
- without difficulties or problems; "a clean test flight"
- thorough and without qualification; "a clean getaway"; "a clean sweep"; "a clean break"
- not carrying concealed weapons
- free from clumsiness; precisely or deftly executed; "he landed a clean left on his opponent's cheek"; "a clean throw"; "the neat exactness of the surgeon's knife"
- free of drugs; "after a long dependency on heroin she has been clean for 4 years"
noun
- a weightlift in which the barbell is lifted to shoulder height and then jerked overhead
verb
- make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from; "Clean the stove!"; "The dentist cleaned my teeth"
- remove unwanted substances from, such as feathers or pits; "Clean the turkey"
- clean and tidy up the house; "She housecleans every week"
- clean one's body or parts thereof, as by washing; "clean up before you see your grandparents"; "clean your fingernails before dinner"
- be cleanable; "This stove cleans easily"
- deprive wholly of money in a gambling game, robbery, etc.; "The other players cleaned him completely"
- remove all contents or possession from, or empty completely; "The boys cleaned the sandwich platters"; "The trees were cleaned of apples by the storm"
- remove while making clean; "Clean the spots off the rug"
- remove unwanted substances from
- remove shells or husks from; "clean grain before milling it"
"Clean" in song lyrics
See how clean is used in real songs:
-
"Cavities are tragedy, keep your teeth clean"
2 Hungry Bros. present 8thW1 — Short and Sweet -
"Cause I dress so fresh, my voice is clean"
2 Live Crew — 2 Live is What We Are... (Word) -
"You wanna be down, but you gotta come clean"
2 Live Crew — You Got Larceny
Words that rhyme with clean
Usage tips for "clean"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "clean" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for clean to find words that pair well.