clean
A1Neutral to informal; also used in formal technical/legal contexts (e.g., 'clean record').
Definition
Meaning
Free from dirt, marks, stains, or unwanted substances.
Free from moral corruption, guilt, or illegality; thorough or complete; following the rules or conventions of a particular activity; having a simple, elegant design.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word covers both physical purity ('clean hands') and abstract purity ('clean energy', 'clean conscience'). Its meaning can shift from literal to figurative based on context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. In informal US usage, 'clean' can mean 'having no drugs/weapons' (as in 'The suspect is clean'). 'Clean up' is used similarly. In UK, 'to clean for a living' is more common phrasing than US 'to clean houses'.
Connotations
Similar positive connotations of purity, order, and honesty in both dialects.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both, with slightly higher colloquial use in US for 'clean' meaning 'sober' or 'legit'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[SUBJ] clean [OBJ] (e.g., She cleaned the windows.)[SUBJ] clean [OBJ] [ADJ] (e.g., He cleaned the floor spotless.)[SUBJ] clean up (e.g., We need to clean up.)[SUBJ] clean [OBJ] out of [NP] (e.g., The scam cleaned him out of his savings.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “come clean”
- “clean as a whistle”
- “clean slate”
- “clean someone's clock”
- “make a clean breast of it”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to audit results ('clean accounts'), ethical practices ('clean business'), or market movements ('clean rally').
Academic
Used in sciences ('clean data', 'clean room'), humanities ('clean copy'), and ethics ('clean research').
Everyday
Most common: household cleaning, personal hygiene, describing tidiness.
Technical
In computing ('clean install'), engineering ('clean fuel'), medicine ('clean wound').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I need to clean the cooker before dinner.
- She cleans for a few families in the neighbourhood.
American English
- I need to clean the stove before dinner.
- He cleans houses part-time.
adverb
British English
- The arrow went clean through the target.
- I clean forgot about our appointment.
American English
- The bullet went clean through the wall.
- I clean forgot to call her.
adjective
British English
- Keep your room clean and tidy.
- He has a clean driving licence.
American English
- Keep your room clean and tidy.
- He has a clean driving record.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please wash your hands to keep them clean.
- My mum cleans the house every Saturday.
- After the storm, we had to clean up the garden.
- It's important to have clean drinking water.
- The athlete was suspended for doping but has now been given a clean bill of health.
- The company aims to switch to 100% clean energy within a decade.
- The investigation concluded that the politician's record was remarkably clean, despite the allegations.
- He made a clean break from his former business partners to start afresh.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'clean' kitchen with a gleaming, lean surface.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLEAN IS MORAL / GOOD (e.g., clean record, clean heart); CLEAN IS EMPTY / COMPLETE (e.g., clean getaway, clean sweep).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'clean' as 'чинить' (to repair). 'Clean' is 'чистить' (verb) or 'чистый' (adj.).
- The phrase 'come clean' means 'признаться', not literally coming to a clean place.
- 'Clean' in 'clean forget' means 'completely', not 'чисто'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'clean' as a noun (e.g., 'I did a clean' -> incorrect). 'Clean' is not a countable noun for the action; use 'cleaning'.
- Confusing 'clean' with 'clear' (e.g., 'clean water' vs. 'clear water').
- Overusing the adjective where 'tidy' or 'neat' is more appropriate for organization.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'clean' used as an adverb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarely in everyday language. The action is 'cleaning' (uncountable). 'A clean' is sometimes used informally in contexts like 'give it a good clean', but 'cleaning' is standard.
'Cleanse' is more formal/literary and often implies a deeper, more thorough, or ritualistic purification (e.g., cleanse the soul, cleanse the skin). 'Clean' is the general, everyday word.
It is an idiom meaning 'to confess or tell the truth about something you have been hiding'.
Yes. The past tense and past participle are both 'cleaned'.
Collections
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