- not dirty
- Are your hands clean?
- She wiped all the surfaces clean.
- (British English) It is your responsibility to keep the room clean and tidy.
- (North American English) Keep your room neat and clean.
- I can't find a clean shirt (= one I haven't worn since it was washed).
- The hotel was spotlessly (= extremely) clean.
- The council does a good job keeping the streets clean.
Extra Examples- I scrubbed the floor to get it clean.
- Is your room clean and tidy now?
- The kitchen's almost clean. I just have to wipe the table.
- Please leave the kitchen clean.
- The bathroom doesn't stay clean for long.
- The room smelled clean and fresh.
- The whole house was spotlessly clean.
- You're supposed to keep your room clean.
- He wiped his plate clean with a piece of bread.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- look
- seem
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- clean and tidy
- neat and clean
- lovely and clean
- …
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- having a clean appearance and living in clean conditions
- Cats are very clean animals.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- look
- seem
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- clean and tidy
- neat and clean
- lovely and clean
- …
- free from harmful or unpleasant substances
- clean water/air
- Thousands were left without food or clean drinking water.
- clean energy
- We all want a cleaner environment but who is going to pay for it?
- cleaner cars (= not producing so many harmful substances)
- Electric buses are a clean, environmentally friendly way to travel.
Extra ExamplesTopics The environmenta1- The water was lovely and clean.
- Fiscal incentives will be introduced to encourage the use of cleaner cars.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- look
- seem
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- clean and tidy
- neat and clean
- lovely and clean
- …
- [usually before noun] with nothing written on it
- a clean sheet of paper
- not offensive or referring to sex; not doing anything that is considered bad or wrong
- The entertainment was good clean fun for the whole family.
- Keep the jokes clean please!
- The sport has a very clean image.
- not showing or having any record of doing something that is against the law
- a clean driving licence/driver’s license
- a clean police record
- [not usually before noun] (informal) not owning or carrying anything illegal such as drugs or weapons
- The police searched her but she was clean.
- [not usually before noun] (informal) not having taken drugs or alcohol
- He's been clean for three weeks.
- played or done in a fair way and within the rules
- It was a tough but clean game.
- having a smooth edge, surface or shape; simple and regular
- A sharp knife makes a clean cut.
- a modern design with clean lines and a bright appearance
- done with skill and in an accurate way
- The plane made a clean take-off.
- with no changes or mistakes in it
- I do my utmost to produce clean copy, but occasionally a mistake slips in.
- It backs up data frequently, keeping a clean copy of your work.
- tasting, smelling or looking pleasant and fresh
- The wine has a clean taste and a lovely golden colour.
compare unclean
not dirty
not harmful
paper
not offensive
not illegal
fair
smooth/simple
accurate
document/software
taste/smell
Word OriginOld English clǣne, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German klein ‘small’.
Idioms
See clean in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee clean in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishas clean as a whistle
- (informal) very cleanMore Like This Similes in idiomsSimiles in idioms
- (as) bald as a coot
- (as) blind as a bat
- (as) bright as a button
- (as) bold as brass
- as busy as a bee
- as clean as a whistle
- (as) dead as a/the dodo
- (as) deaf as a post
- (as) dull as ditchwater
- (as) fit as a fiddle
- as flat as a pancake
- (as) good as gold
- (as) mad as a hatter/a March hare
- (as) miserable/ugly as sin
- as old as the hills
- (as) pleased/proud as Punch
- as pretty as a picture
- (as) regular as clockwork
- (as) quick as a flash
- (as) safe as houses
- (as) sound as a bell
- (as) steady as a rock
- (as) thick as two short planks
- (as) tough as old boots
a clean bill of health
- a report that says somebody is healthy or that something is in good condition
- Doctors gave him a clean bill of health after a series of tests and examinations.
- The building was given a clean bill of health by the surveyor.
a clean break
- a complete end to any connection with a person, an organization, a way of life, etc.
- She wanted to make a clean break with the past.
- a break in a bone in one place
a clean sheet/slate
- a record of your work or behaviour that does not show any mistakes or bad things that you have done
- No government operates with a completely clean sheet.
- They kept a clean sheet in the match (= no goals were scored against them).
(make) a clean sweep (of something)
- to remove all the people or things from an organization that are thought to be unnecessary or need changing
- The new manager made a clean sweep of the department.
- to win all the prizes or parts of a game or competition; to win an election completely
- China made a clean sweep of the medals in the gymnastics events.
- The opinion poll suggests a clean sweep for the Democrats.
come clean (with somebody) (about something)
- to admit and explain something that you have kept as a secret
- Isn't it time the government came clean about their plans for education?
keep your nose clean
- (informal) to avoid doing anything wrong or illegal
- Since leaving prison, he's managed to keep his nose clean.
make a clean breast of something
- to tell the truth about something so that you no longer feel guilty
- He made a clean breast of everything and admitted taking the money.
wipe the slate clean
- to agree to forget about past mistakes or arguments and start again with a relationshipTopics Discussion and agreementc2
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clean