What does "cleaning" mean?

1. (the act of making clean) the activity of removing dirt or making a place tidy. 2. (afterbirth) the material that comes out of a female animal, like a cow, after it gives birth.

How do you use "cleaning"?

Often used as an uncountable noun or in the phrase 'do the cleaning'. Primarily used in veterinary or agricultural contexts.

cleaning

US //ˈkɫinɪŋ// UK //klˈiːnɪŋ// clean·ing

1 the act of making clean (n.)
A2 Elementary

the activity of removing dirt or making a place tidy.

the act or process of removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from a surface or environment.

Example

I usually do the cleaning on Saturday mornings so the house is ready for the weekend.

Example

The spring cleaning revealed several long-lost items behind the heavy oak cabinets in the dining room.

Usage

Often used as an uncountable noun or in the phrase 'do the cleaning'.
- tidying
- scrubbing
- sanitization
- soiling
- polluting
2 afterbirth (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Science

the material that comes out of a female animal, like a cow, after it gives birth.

the placenta and fetal membranes discharged from the uterus after the birth of offspring.

Example

The farmer checked the cow to make sure the cleaning had come away properly.

Example

In veterinary medicine, a retained cleaning in livestock can lead to serious systemic infections if not addressed promptly.

Usage

Primarily used in veterinary or agricultural contexts.
- afterbirth
- placenta