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to clean

to clean

1.0
To remove dirt and stains
  • verb
  • /klin/
translation icon : limpiar
  • She decided to clean the kitchen after dinner to remove all the leftover crumbs.
  • clean the house
  • help clean
  • clean the toilets

Jazz it up, clean it, DIY fix it.

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Examples

  • In fact, I'm going to clean this one out as well.

  • Get a crew down here and clean this up.

  • So we really want to make sure we clean this area.

  • The house you need to clean is your own.

  • I will help you clean it.

  • Let's see if I can just clean that last bit off.

  • For example, clean your glasses.

  • I was cleaning the office next door when it all happened.

  • So let's get started and clean my closet.

  • The restaurant was busy; we barely had time to clean and reset our tables between seatings.

    Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

to clean up
vsto clean
433 1.0

To make a room or area free of dirt and tidy by removing mess

focuses only on removing dirt or impurities, not tidying items
to sweep
vsto clean
227 1.0

To clean a floor or surface by brushing away dirt with a broom

is broader and applies to surface clearing beyond sweeping alone
to rinse
vsto clean
83 1.0

To wash something with water to remove soap or dirt

is more general, not limited to water rinsing after washing
to dust
vsto clean
66 1.0

To remove small dry particles from a surface by wiping or brushing

means removing all unwanted substances, not only loose particles
to cleanse
vsto clean
33 3.0

Remove dirt and germs from a person's body by washing

applies to removing dirt from any object or material generally
to wash off
vsto clean
31 1.0

To remove something from a surface by washing with water or soap

is broader, applying to many removal methods beyond water washing
to purify
vsto clean
30 4.6

To remove dirt and bad chemicals from water or air to make them clean

is broader and includes removing ordinary dirt, not only purifying substances
to wipe away
vsto clean
28 2.0

To remove something from a surface by moving a cloth over it, like tears or dirt

covers removal generally, not limited to wiping actions
to disinfect
vsto clean
18 3.7

To clean a surface, wound, or tool with chemicals to kill germs

is the general removal of dirt and impurities, not limited to killing microbes
to sanitize
vsto clean
  • US
11 3.7

Make something clean and free from bacteria

covers removing visible dirt and impurities, not only microbes
to wash out
vsto clean
9 2.0

Clean something using water to remove dirt or stains

covers removal of dirt by any method, not only thorough washing
to steam clean
vsto clean
3 3.2

Remove dirt or stains from something using hot steam

applies to removing dirt by any means, not only steam treatment
to scrub off
vsto clean
1 2.5

To remove dirt or stains by rubbing hard with a brush

involves removing dirt more generally, not only by forceful rubbing
1 1.0

To remove dirt or mud from a surface

is the general act of removing dirt and impurities broadly
to vacuum-clean
vsto clean
2.1

To clean a carpet or floor with a vacuum cleaner

includes that removal but also other methods besides suction
to unsmudge
vsto clean
7.0

Remove marks or stains from a surface so it looks clean

is the broader action of removing many kinds of unwanted substances

Antonyms

113 3.2

To put color on something to change how it looks

14 1.0

To make something unclean or covered with dirt

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

Phrasal Verbs

433 1.0

To make a room or area free of dirt and tidy by removing mess

to clean up
  • Informal
333 2.7

To finish dealing with things and put them in order

to come clean
  • Informal
92 4.1

To say the truth about something you kept secret

91 3.2

Empty a place or container by removing everything inside

86 2.0

To wash and make yourself look neat

To make a house clean and tidy by removing dirt and putting things in order

to clean out
  • Informal
15 5.1

Make someone lose all their money or possessions

to clean up
  • Informal
14 3.9

To stop using drugs or alcohol and stay sober

to clean up
  • Informal
12 4.8

To make a lot of money quickly or easily

to clean out
  • Informal
10 3.6

Remove people completely from a place or group because they are unwanted

To remove dirt or spills from the floor using a mop

8 3.3

To clean clothes using chemicals instead of water

To remove dirt and leaves from a swimming pool

Remove dirt or stains from something using hot steam

to clean house
  • Informal
3 4.0

To remove unwanted people or things to make a group work better

To clean the whole house very thoroughly, usually in spring

To remove dirt or mud from a surface

Remove waste from a cat's litter tray

To remove harmful things from the body or a computer

To clean a carpet or floor with a vacuum cleaner

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 Clean

to sterilize
  • Specialized
29 4.1
to scrub
55 1.0
to clean
1.0
wipe
18 1.0
to dust
66 1.0

Surface Forms

clean infinitive
cleaned past
cleaned past participle
cleaning present participle
cleans third person singular

Etymology

Clean, as a verb, comes from the old English clænan, meaning 'to make pure', so to clean something is to remove dirt and make it pure again.