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clean

clean

66 2.4
Complete and without anything left out
  • adjective
  • /klin/
translation icon : completo
  • Looking at the instant messaging clients, you'll see a very clean and much-welcome redesign.
  • a clean break

This is a very quick, complete, clean install, brand new Windows install.

Examples

  • Complete clean slate and everything is learned.

  • Have a good, clean ball game.

  • So OK, Well, I wish I had brought a clean set of notes.

  • And I did a deep, deep clean last weekend.

  • "I think it's better if we have a clean break."

    Fiction book (2000)
  • You can start over, wipe the slate clean.

  • Quite the contrary, but I was willing to wipe the slate clean and give him another chance.

    Blog text (4)
  • It's the third straight year for Yamaha, a clean sweep.

  • Neither of them spoke until he had taken three deep drags, exhaling smoke into the cool, clean air.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • The project received a clean review from the committee, with all aspects thoroughly examined.

Synonyms

complete
vsclean
497 1.0

Having all needed parts and nothing missing

adds emphasis on being exhaustive and leaving nothing out
thorough
vsclean
205 4.6

Shows careful attention to every detail and leaves nothing out

focuses on totality rather than just careful detail
done and dusted
vsclean
  • UK
3 5.6

Completely finished and settled so nothing more needs doing

means total and without anything left out rather than merely finished

Antonyms

203 3.4

Not complete and only in some parts

117 3.4

Not finished because some parts or steps are missing

Idioms

An official statement that a person or thing is healthy and has no serious problems

11 6.8

To avoid trouble and not attract bad attention

8 5.0

To start fresh by forgetting past mistakes and problems

To tell the whole truth about something wrong you did

Beat someone badly in a game or fight

Run away quickly to avoid danger or trouble

Do something new and not worry about past mistakes

Compounds

42 1.0

Water that is safe to drink and use

clean slate
  • Informal
21 4.1

A chance to start again without being blamed for past mistakes

13 3.8

Having a neat, smart look and tidy clothes

clean break
  • Informal
12 3.9

A complete ending of a relationship or old life to start fresh

12 3.5

A person with no hair on the face, like on the chin and cheeks

clean sweep
  • Informal
5 3.6

A full success when someone wins everything or makes a complete change

clean room
  • Specialized
5 6.4

A room where people keep the air and surfaces very clean for making microchips and other sensitive equipment

3 3.7

Living in a morally careful way and avoiding drinking, smoking, and drugs

clean-burning
  • Specialized
1 5.3

Produces little smoke or ash when burned

clean and jerk
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A weightlifting move where you lift a heavy bar to your shoulders then push it above your head

clean code
  • Specialized
1 4.0

Clear, well organized computer instructions that are easy to read and change

Very clean and tidy with no dirt or marks

clean bomb
  • Archaic
6.1

A nuclear bomb that produces very little radioactive fallout

8.0

A style of building with simple straight lines and visible wood parts

An organized activity where people pick up litter in a public place

clean-up event
  • Specialized
3.7

A scheduled task that deletes temporary files to free disk space

Having well-shaped arms and legs that look strong and graceful

code clean
  • Specialized
5.8

Source code written clearly so other programmers can read and change it

7.2

A clean room where air moves in smooth parallel layers to keep tiny particles away during work like making microchips

How Complete

exhaustive
  • Formal
32 6.6
thorough
205 4.6
clean
66 2.4
incomplete
117 3.4

Surface Forms

clean positive
cleaner comparative
cleanest superlative

Etymology

Clean began as a word for 'pure' and then came to mean 'with nothing left', so a clean break or clean sweep is a complete, total one with nothing left behind.