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dry cleaners

dry cleaners

19 1.5
A shop that cleans clothes without using water
  • noun
  • /draɪ ˈkliːnərz/
translation icon : tintorería
  • It's just come back from the dry cleaners.
  • go to the dry cleaners
  • trip to the dry cleaners
  • local dry cleaners

Even if you meant cleaning, doing odd jobs at the dry cleaners whilst I was studying.

Examples

  • We headed back into town, and I pulled into the dry cleaners.

    Blog text (2)
  • The dry cleaners in our neighborhood is known for its quick service.

  • Would you have time to take that to the dry cleaners today?

  • I have to drop something off at the dry cleaners.

  • I've got to get the medicine and go to the dry cleaners.

  • I took some of my clothes to the dry cleaners (only 6 things and it cost $70).

    Blog text (3)
  • The woman at my dry cleaners believes there's no such thing as coincidence.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • I have to drop something off at the dry cleaners before the party.

  • She picked up her suit from the dry cleaners last night.

Synonyms

cleaner
vsdry cleaners
124 1.6

A person or shop that cleans clothes professionally, often using dry cleaning

is the shop term focusing on the place rather than the worker or firm
dry cleaner
vsdry cleaners
24 1.6

A person or shop that cleans clothes with chemicals instead of water

is the shop form focusing on the place rather than the person
cleaners
vsdry cleaners
1.0

A shop that cleans clothes for people, often by dry cleaning

is the same business but named with the key expression

Antonyms

71 1.0

A place where people wash and iron clothes

Surface Forms

dry cleaners plural
dry cleaner singular

Morphology

dry + cleaner

The meaning is directly compositional: 'dry' (not wet / without water) modifies 'cleaner' (a person or business that cleans clothes), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer a business that cleans garments without water (i.e., dry cleaning). This follows a common noun-modifier pattern and is cross-linguistically recognizable, making the phrase readily understandable from its parts.

Etymology

Dry cleaners gets its name from a way of cleaning clothes 'without water'. People used special chemicals so the fabric did not get wet, so the shop was called a dry cleaner, and today the name means a place that cleans clothes with chemicals.