clean
She keeps her kitchen very clean.
Her kitchen has no dirt or mess.
free from dirt, marks, or stains
The hotel rooms were spotlessly clean.
The hotel rooms had no dirt or mess.
Wash your hands to stay clean.
Washing removes dirt from your hands.
Often implies tidiness and absence of disorder, not just physical dirt.
morally pure or innocent
The heroine is a clean character with no flaws.
Her moral purity is a key trait.
Used in literary or religious contexts to describe virtue.
not involving or contaminated by illegal or immoral activities
The company has a clean record with no legal violations.
The company has no history of breaking laws.
Common in legal or business contexts.
smooth and regular in form or outline
The surface must be clean before applying the coating.
The surface must have no irregularities or contaminants.
Used in manufacturing or engineering to describe surfaces.
(of energy) not involving the release of pollutants
The factory uses clean energy sources like solar power.
The factory relies on energy that does not pollute.
Refers to renewable or non-polluting energy.
to remove dirt or unwanted substances from something
Please clean the windows before guests arrive.
Remove dirt and streaks from the windows.
Can be transitive (clean something) or intransitive (clean up).
to make something morally acceptable or pure
The priest's words clean the soul of sin.
The priest's words purify the soul.
Rare in modern usage; mostly literary or metaphorical.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Collocation Focus
Learn common collocations like 'clean energy' or 'clean record' to sound more natural. These are phrases native speakers use frequently.
Gold Rule
Adjective vs. Verb
As an adjective, 'clean' describes a state (e.g., 'a clean room'). As a verb, it describes an action (e.g., 'clean the room').
Context Matters
In technical fields like engineering, 'clean' often refers to precision or absence of contaminants. In moral contexts, it refers to purity.
Word Origin
From Old English 'clǣne' (pure, clear), related to Old Norse 'klænn' and Old High German 'klēni'. The sense of 'free from dirt' emerged in Middle English.
Usage Notes
As an adjective, 'clean' can describe physical cleanliness, moral purity, or technical precision. As a verb, it often implies thoroughness (e.g., 'clean the house' vs. 'wash the dishes'). In sports, 'clean' can mean a successful lift in weightlifting with no mistakes.