cleaner

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A person whose occupation is to clean things, especially rooms, floors, and windows.

   The cleaner worked, of course, at nights. He had to coal and light up the engine, as well as clean it, for the next day's work, which commenced with a light run to Barnham to "bring in the goods" from that station at about 6.30 a.m.

2. 2
   noun

   A substance used for cleaning; especially, one retailed for that purpose and meant for use on things other than one's own body.

   Near-synonym: cleaning fluid

3. 3
   noun

   A professional laundry or dry cleaner (business).

   I'll have to take this shirt to the cleaners.

4. 4
   adj

   Comparative form of clean: more clean.

   Diesel No. C222 was shunting near the shed, as was a 4-4-0 with a very large-looking boiler, No. 306, which was much the cleaner of the two.

5. 5
   noun

   a preparation used in cleaning something

6. 6
   noun

   someone whose occupation is cleaning

7. 7
   noun

   the operator of dry-cleaning establishment

8. 8
   noun

   A device that cleans, such as the vacuum cleaner.

Etymology

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.