clean

CEFRA1

/kliːn/

adjective · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Free from dirt or unwanted marks.

  2. 02

    verb

    To remove dirt from something.

Examples

  • You had better make a clean breast of everything.

  • Help yourself to a clean towel.

At a glance

Sits at A1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • [kʰl̥eːn]
  • [kʰl̥iːn]

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Not involved in illegal or dishonest activity.

  2. Free of contamination, (unwanted) germs, infection, or disease.

  3. Free of dirt, filth, or impurities (extraneous matter); not dirty, filthy, or soiled.

More examples

In context

  • You must keep your room clean.

  • Are these dishes clean? Your room is finally clean! For a baby, happiness is a full bottle and a clean diaper.

  • Insert a clean swab into your nose.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

He used a sponge to blank the dirty kitchen counter thoroughly.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

From Middle English clene, clane, from Old English clǣne (“clean, pure”), from Proto-West Germanic *klainī (“shining, fine, splendid, tender”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *glēy- (“gleaming”), from Proto-Indo-European *gel- (“to gleam”). Cognate with Scots clean (“absolute, pure, clear, empty”) and clene, clane (“clean”), North Frisian klien (“small”), West Frisian klien (“small”), klean (“clean”), Dutch klein (“small”), Low German kleen (“small”), German klein (“small”), Swedish klen (“weak, feeble, delicate”), Icelandic klénn (“poor, feeble, petty, snug, puny, cheesy, lame”).