cleaner
- 01 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.
Simple“The office cleaner arrives at six in the evening after everyone else has gone home.”
In context“The school employs a dedicated team of cleaners to ensure the classrooms are sanitised every night before the students return.”
- 02 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.
Simple“You should use a special glass cleaner to get the mirrors really shiny.”
In context“The industrial-strength cleaner proved effective at removing the stubborn oil stains that had accumulated on the garage floor over several years.”
- 03 A2 Elementary
a machine used for cleaning, most commonly a vacuum cleaner.
an apparatus or device designed to perform a cleaning function, typically mechanical.
Simple“I need to empty the dust bag in the vacuum cleaner before I finish the rug.”
In context“The new robotic cleaner navigates the living room automatically, detecting obstacles and adjusting its path to ensure every corner is reached.”
- 04 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.
Simple“I have to pick up my suit from the cleaners before the wedding on Saturday.”
In context“She dropped her silk dress off at the cleaners, requesting a rush service so it would be ready for the evening gala.”
UsageUsually used in the plural form 'the cleaners'.
Synonymslaundrydry cleaners - 05 C2 Proficiency
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.
Simple“In the movie, they called a cleaner to make sure the police found no fingerprints.”
In context“The thriller depicts the cold efficiency of a professional cleaner who specialises in erasing all traces of high-profile crimes before the authorities arrive.”
Synonyms
Inherited from Middle English clener, clenere, equivalent to clean + -er (agent noun suffix).
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.