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clean

n. countable
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ˈkɫin// UK //klˈiːn// clean General-service Informal Slang

n. the act of making something tidy or free of dirt. You use this when you talk about a quick job to make a room or object look good again.

n. an instance or act of cleaning a surface, object, or area. Often used in informal contexts to describe a routine or thorough maintenance task.


SIMPLE

The kitchen needs a good clean before the guests arrive.

CONTEXTUAL

I gave the car a quick clean this morning to remove the dust from the long drive.

COMPLEX

After the renovation was finished, the entire house required a deep clean to eliminate the fine layer of plaster dust that had settled on every surface.

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Antonyms
Origin

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”).

Usage

Usually follows the verb 'give' or 'need' in British and Australian English; less common in American English where 'cleaning' is preferred.

Idioms16 entries

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