Back to Report
clean · adjective /kliːn/Full view
Nouns: cleaner, cleanliness, cleanser
Adjectives: clean, unclean
Verbs: clean, cleanse
Adverbs: clean
clean (NOT DIRTY)
A1 not dirty
Dictionary examples:

a clean white shirt

clean air/water

Make sure your hands are clean before you sit down to dinner.

Learner example:

I like this place, because I have got a beautiful room. It is very clean and nice. (Skills for Life (Entry 1); A1; Slovak)

clean (NO CRIME)
C2 showing that you have not done anything illegal
Dictionary example:

a clean driving record

Learner example:

Of course, it is a strain to portray a clean image and avoid scandals. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; German)

clean · verb T /kliːn/
Nouns: cleaner, cleanliness, cleanser
Adjectives: clean, unclean
Verbs: clean, cleanse
Adverbs: clean
clean
A1 to remove dirt from something
Dictionary examples:

I'm going to clean the windows this morning.

You should clean that scrape so it doesn't get infected.

He asked her to help him clean out the cupboards.

Learner example:

She clean[s] the house every day. (Skills for Life (Entry 1); A1; Kurdish)

clean sth out or clean out sth
C2 to take everything out of a room, car, container, etc. and clean the inside of it
Dictionary example:

I cleaned out the fridge this morning.

Learner example:

The owner, an almost illiterate woman, claimed to have come across the diary as she was cleaning out the attic. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Portuguese)

clean up (sth) or clean (sth) up (MAKE CLEAN)
C1 to make something clean and neat
Dictionary examples:

You need to clean up your room.

We'll clean this mess up before we leave.

I have to clean up before the guests arrive.

Learner example:

I usually clean up my room once a week myself, and [the] cleaner does it on every Tuesday. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Korean)

clean up (sth) or clean (sth) up (REMOVE POLLUTION)
C1 to remove pollution from somewhere
Dictionary example:

They are developing processes to clean up polluted rivers.

Learner example:

I can also help by distributing leaflets which contain information on how to start cleaning up the environment. (International English Language Testing System; C1; Tagalog)

Cambridge logo