ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cleaner

n.
US //ˈkɫinɝ// UK //klˈiːnɐ// clean·er
  1. 1 a person who cleans (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    someone whose job is to clean houses, offices, or other buildings.

    a person employed to maintain the cleanliness of a domestic or commercial environment.

    Example

    The office cleaner arrives at six in the evening after everyone else has gone home.

    Example

    The school employs a dedicated team of cleaners to ensure the classrooms are sanitised every night before the students return.
  2. 2 a cleaning substance (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a liquid or powder used to remove dirt from surfaces like floors or windows.

    a chemical substance or preparation formulated for removing dirt, grease, or stains from inanimate objects.

    Example

    You should use a special glass cleaner to get the mirrors really shiny.

    Example

    The industrial-strength cleaner proved effective at removing the stubborn oil stains that had accumulated on the garage floor over several years.
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  1. 3 a cleaning machine (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a machine used for cleaning, most commonly a vacuum cleaner.

    an apparatus or device designed to perform a cleaning function, typically mechanical.

    Example

    I need to empty the dust bag in the vacuum cleaner before I finish the rug.

    Example

    The new robotic cleaner navigates the living room automatically, detecting obstacles and adjusting its path to ensure every corner is reached.
  2. 4 the dry cleaners (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a shop where you take clothes to be professionally washed or dry-cleaned.

    an establishment where clothing and fabrics are professionally laundered or dry-cleaned; usually used in the plural.

    Example

    I have to pick up my suit from the cleaners before the wedding on Saturday.

    Example

    She dropped her silk dress off at the cleaners, requesting a rush service so it would be ready for the evening gala.

    Usage

    Usually used in the plural form 'the cleaners'.
  3. 5 a fixer (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Slang Informal

    a person who is hired to hide evidence of a crime or clean up a mess for criminals.

    a person hired to dispose of incriminating evidence or bodies, typically in a criminal context.

    Example

    In the movie, they called a cleaner to make sure the police found no fingerprints.

    Example

    The thriller depicts the cold efficiency of a professional cleaner who specialises in erasing all traces of high-profile crimes before the authorities arrive.
Etymology 1

Inherited from Middle English clener, clenere, equivalent to clean + -er (agent noun suffix).

Etymology 2

Inherited from Middle English clener, clenner, clanner, clannere, from Old English clǣnra, clǣnre (“cleaner, purer, clearer”), from Proto-West Germanic klainiʀō (“daintier, more delicate”), from Proto-Germanic klainizô (“shinier, finer, more splendid”), equivalent to clean + -er.

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