clean

A1 Topic:Describing Qualities

Also spelled clane

US /kliːn/ UK /kliːn/ See IPA manual

Freq #685

Meanings

1

adj
Free from dirt, marks, or stains.

Please put on a clean shirt.
2

verb
To remove dirt or mess from something.

I clean my house every week.
3

adj
Done well and without mistakes or problems.

The pilot made a clean landing.
4

adj
No longer taking illegal drugs.

After years of addiction, he has been clean for four years.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Multiword verbs with clean

clean off Phrasal verb A1

to remove dirt or unwanted material from a surface

Thesaurus

Synonyms

immaculate pristinespick-and-spanspotless stainlessunsoiledunsullied

Opposites

dirty unclean

Word family

Forms cleanedcleanestcleaningcleansuncleaned

Derived forms biocleanbroom-cleanclean-handedclean-labelclean-limbedclean-livingclean-shavedclean-timberedclean-upcleanabilitycleanablecleanaholic

Related forms dry-cleanpurevacuum-clean

Appears in

Phrases (12)

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clean clothes
clothes that have been washed and are free from dirt

Adjective + noun
clean water
water that is free from pollutants and safe for drinking or everyday use

Adjective + noun
clean a room
to tidy and remove dirt from a room

Verb + noun
clean the floor
remove dirt and mess from the floor

Verb + noun
clean the kitchen
tidy and wash the surfaces and appliances in a kitchen

Verb + noun
clean air
air that is free from pollution and harmful substances

Adjective + noun

Idioms (3)

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Proverbs (3)

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Simplified etymology

Clean is an Old English word of West Germanic origin and is related to German klein.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-West Germanic *klainī Old English clǣne Middle English clene English clean From Middle English clene, clane, from Old English clǣne (“clean, pure”), from Proto-West Germanic *klainī (“shining, fine, splendid, tender”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *glēy- (“gleaming”), from Proto-Indo-European *gel- (“to gleam”). Cognate with Scots clean (“absolute, pure, clear, empty”) and clene, clane (“clean”), North Frisian klien (“small”), West Frisian klien (“small”), klean (“clean”), Dutch klein (“small”), Low German kleen (“small”), German klein (“small”), Swedish klen (“weak, f…

clene Middle English clǣne Old English *klainī Proto-West Germanic *glēy- Proto-Indo-European *gel- Proto-Indo-European

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Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# clean

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A1
**Part of speech:** adj, verb
**IPA (US):** /kliːn/
**IPA (UK):** /kliːn/
**Frequency rank:** 685

## Meanings
1. Free from dirt, marks, or stains.
2. To remove dirt or mess from something.
3. Done well and without mistakes or problems.
4. No longer taking illegal drugs.

## Examples
- Please put on a clean shirt.
- I clean my house every week.
- The pilot made a clean landing.
- After years of addiction, he has been clean for four years.

## Synonyms
- immaculate
- pristine
- spick-and-span
- spotless
- stainless
- unsoiled
- unsullied

## Antonyms
- dirty
- unclean

## Derived Forms
- bioclean
- broom-clean
- clean-handed
- clean-label
- clean-limbed
- clean-living
- clean-shaved
- clean-timbered
- clean-up
- cleanability
- cleanable
- cleanaholic

## Related Forms
- dry-clean
- pure
- vacuum-clean

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: clene
- Root: clǣne
- Root: *klainī
- Root: *glēy-
- Root: *gel-

## Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-West Germanic *klainī Old English clǣne Middle English clene English clean From Middle English clene, clane, from Old English clǣne (“clean, pure”), from Proto-West Germanic *klainī (“shining, fine, splendid, tender”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *glēy- (“gleaming”), from Proto-Indo-European *gel- (“to gleam”). Cognate with Scots clean (“absolute, pure, clear, empty”) and clene, clane (“clean”), North Frisian klien (“small”), West Frisian klien (“small”), klean (“clean”), Dutch klein (“small”), Low German kleen (“small”), German klein (“small”), Swedish klen (“weak, f…

## AI Etymology
clean is a verb and adjective. It is from Middle English clene, clane, from Old English clǣne (“clean, pure”), from Proto-West Germanic *klainī (“shining, fine, splendid, tender”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *glēy- (“gleaming”), from Proto-Indo-European *gel- (“to gleam”). Historical forms in the chain include clene (Middle English), clǣne (Old English), *klainī (Proto-West Germanic), *glēy- (Proto-Indo-European), and *gel- (Proto-Indo-European). Current senses include free from dirt, marks, or stains, to remove dirt or mess from something, and done well and without mistakes or problems. Derived forms include bioclean, broom-clean, clean-handed, clean-label, and clean-limbed. Related words include dry-clean, pure, and vacuum-clean.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

markdown

clean

Meanings

Verb forms

Multiword verbs with clean

Thesaurus

Appears in

Phrases (12)

Idioms (3)

Proverbs (3)

Simplified etymology

Etymology

Topics

External links

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