cleaning device
- noun
- She bought a new cleaning device to help keep her home free of dust and dirt.
Examples
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The janitor used a powerful cleaning device to scrub the floors until they sparkled.
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All right, so this stuff looks pretty used and for it being a cleaning device kind of don't want to touch this.
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This has led to the design of complex tube-cleaning devices to keep the surfaces of the tubes clear.
Academic text (1996) -
This cleaning device is designed to remove stains from all types of surfaces effectively.
Synonyms
An electric machine that cleans floors and carpets by sucking up dust
A cloth used to remove dust from surfaces
A brush with short, stiff bristles for cleaning hard surfaces
A machine that uses heat or chemicals to kill germs on tools
A mop with a long handle and a soft dry head that removes dust from floors
A machine with a filter that removes dust and small particles from the air
A small piece of soft material used to wipe surfaces and remove dirt or oil
Tools like a broom or vacuum that you use to clean surfaces and rooms
A brush with short stiff bristles for cleaning hard dirt on surfaces
A tool or person that uses water to wash away dirt
A person or machine that cleans a surface with a brush
A tool like a broom or mop used to clean floors and other surfaces
A person or tool that cleans ship decks and floors
A small hand tool for beating dust out of rugs
A machine that uses water under pressure to clean pipes
A machine that uses a cleaning liquid to kill germs on things and surfaces
A small flat piece of cloth or sponge that you use to rub dirt off surfaces like a stove
How Powerful
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'an implement for cleaning' is directly and compositionally derived from 'cleaning' (the action of cleaning) modifying 'device' (a manufactured item), forming a straightforward noun phrase. This noun+noun/gerund+noun pattern is common and cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
The compound cleaning device comes from a simple image: a device is a tool or machine and cleaning means removing dirt, so together the words name something made to clean. So it means 'a tool for cleaning'.