clean

[[t]klin[/t]]

adj. and adv. clean•er, clean•est,

1) free from dirt; not soiled or stained:

a clean dress[/ex]

2) free from foreign or extraneous matter; pure:

clean sound[/ex]

3) free from pollution or pollutants:

clean air; clean energy[/ex]

4) characterized by a fresh, wholesome quality

5) having few or no corrections; easily readable:

The printer submitted clean proofs[/ex]

6) free from roughness or irregularity:

He made a clean cut with a razor[/ex]

7) not ornate; gracefully spare; trim:

the clean lines of a ship[/ex]

8) complete; unqualified:

a clean break with tradition[/ex]

9) morally pure; innocent; honorable:

to lead a clean life[/ex]

10) showing good sportsmanship; fair:

a clean fighter[/ex]

11) inoffensive in language or content; without obscenity

12) cvb (of a document, record, etc.) bearing no marks of discreditable or unlawful conduct; listing no offenses

13) sts Slang.

a) innocent of any crime

b) not having a criminal record

c) carrying or containing no evidence of unlawful activity or intent

d) not using narcotics

14) phs

a) not radioactive

b) (of a nuclear weapon) producing little or no radioactive fallout

15) cvb (of a document or financial instrument) free from qualifications or restrictions:

a clean bill of lading[/ex]

16) free from defects or flaws:

a clean diamond[/ex]

17) free from encumbrances or obstructions

18) made without any difficulty or interference:

a clean getaway[/ex]

19) bib having no blemish so as to make impure according to dietary or ritual law

20) dexterously performed:

a clean serve in tennis[/ex]

21) sts Slang. without money or funds

22) in a clean manner; cleanly

23) so as to be clean:

This shirt will never wash clean[/ex]

24) inf Informal. wholly; completely; quite:

The bullet passed clean through the wall[/ex]

25) to make clean or clear

26) cvb to dry-clean

27) cvb to remove the entrails and other inedible parts from (poultry, fish, etc.); dress

28) sts Slang. to take away or win all or almost all the money or possessions of:

That last bet cleaned me out[/ex]

29) to perform or undergo a process of cleaning

30) phv clean out

a) to empty in order to clean

b) phv to empty; deplete; evacuate

31) phv clean up

a) to wash or tidy up

b) to rid of undesirable persons or features

c) inf to make a large profit

•

- come clean

Etymology: bef. 900; ME clene, OE clǣne pure, clear, c. OSklēni, cleini, OHG kleini clean′a•ble, adj. clean′ness, n.