ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cleaner

n. countable
A2 Elementary US //ˈkɫinɝ// UK //klˈiːnɐ// clean·er Informal

n. a person whose job is to wash and tidy rooms, offices, or buildings. It can also mean a substance or tool you use to remove dirt.

n. a person employed to maintain the cleanliness of a domestic or commercial premises. Also refers to a chemical agent or mechanical device used for removing impurities or stains.


SIMPLE

The cleaner arrives at eight to tidy the office.

CONTEXTUAL

After the party, we had to hire a professional cleaner to remove the deep stains from the carpet.

COMPLEX

While the industrial-strength cleaner proved effective at removing the grease, the janitorial staff noted that its fumes were too pungent for use during regular business hours.

Synonyms
Antonyms
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.

Usage

Often used in the plural ('the cleaners') to refer to a dry-cleaning business.

Pitfall

She is a very good clean.She is a very good cleaner.Learners sometimes use the adjective or verb 'clean' when they mean the person performing the action.

Idioms1 entry

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