clean
clean — verb
1. to get dirt, marks, or unwanted materials off a surface, object, or person by wa
to get dirt, marks, or unwanted materials off a surface, object, or person by washing, wiping, or brushing
Shanti cleaned the kitchen floor with a mop and a bucket.
clean + [place] + with [tool]
The dentist told Aoi to clean her teeth after every meal.
direct object: body part — clean teeth / clean hands
Brooke used a special cloth to clean the glass window.
Hassan helped his mother clean the car on Saturday morning.
Please clean your hands with soap before you eat dinner.
- dirty
the opposite action — to make something unclean
文法句型
clean + noun phrase
常見錯誤
2. for a surface, object, or person to get free of dirt or stains, typically as a r
for a surface, object, or person to get free of dirt or stains, typically as a result of washing or wiping
This carpet cleans easily with just a little soap and warm water.
intransitive: [carpet] cleans easily
Noa watched the white shirt clean up nicely in the washing machine.
phrasal verb: clean up (intransitive)
The bathroom floor cleans faster when you use hot water and a mop.
Dahlia's new leather shoes clean well with just a soft brush.
文法句型
[thing] cleans [adverb]
用法筆記
Subject is the thing becoming clean, not the person doing the cleaning. Often used with an adverb (easily, well, quickly) to describe how well the cleaning works.
常見錯誤
3. to take out the internal organs of a fish, bird, or animal before cooking and ea
to take out the internal organs of a fish, bird, or animal before cooking and eating it
The fisherman cleaned the fish before taking it home for dinner.
direct object: fish/animal for food preparation
Ignacio watched his grandmother clean the chicken for Sunday lunch.
Aylin learned to clean a rabbit from her uncle on the farm.
You should clean a fish as soon as possible after catching it.
Amihan helped her father clean the ducks they raised on their land.
文法句型
clean + [animal/fish] + for [purpose]
用法筆記
Only applies to animals raised or caught for eating — not for pets or wild animals you do not intend to cook.
常見錯誤
clean — noun
1. the act of removing dirt, dust, or mess from a place or object in order to make
the act of removing dirt, dust, or mess from a place or object in order to make it clean and tidy
Lotte gave her kitchen a thorough clean after the dinner party.
give + noun phrase + a clean pattern
The old rug needs a good clean before we put it in the living room.
need + a clean for objects that are dirty
Ryan's car was so dusty that a full afternoon clean was the only option.
After the building work, the whole house needed a deep clean from top to bottom.
Anjali gave the bathroom a quick clean before her guests arrived.
- scrub
implies a more vigorous, thorough cleaning with hard rubbing ('the floor needs a good scrub')
文法句型
give + noun phrase + a clean
need + a clean
have + a clean
用法筆記
This noun is most commonly used in fixed patterns with verbs like 'give', 'need', or 'have'. It is almost always singular and preceded by an article ('a', 'an') or a determiner. For example, 'give the floor a clean' or 'the bathroom needs a proper clean'.
常見錯誤
clean — adjective
1. having no dirt, dust, marks, or other unwanted substances on the surface or in a
having no dirt, dust, marks, or other unwanted substances on the surface or in a space.
Ilan washed the kitchen floor, and now it is clean and dry.
Mum gave Kwame a clean towel after his bath.
collocation: clean + towel / shirt / blanket
The water in this glass looks clean enough to drink.
Gabriela put on a clean shirt before she left for school.
The cat likes to sleep on a clean blanket by the fire.
用法筆記
The opposite is dirty. For food or water, clean means safe to eat or drink. For a person or animal, clean means having washed.
常見錯誤
2. done in an honest way that follows the rules, without cheating or taking unfair
done in an honest way that follows the rules, without cheating or taking unfair advantages.
The referee made sure the match stayed clean and fair for both teams.
collocation: a clean match / fight / game
Chiara promised to run a clean election campaign with no secret donations.
In a clean boxing match, neither fighter is allowed to hit below the belt.
The company maintains a clean reputation by treating all partners honestly.
Kabir told us the deal was completely clean and approved by both lawyers.
- fair
broader term for equal treatment; can replace clean in most contexts
- sporting
especially describes generous, fair-minded behaviour in games
- aboveboard
emphasises openness and transparency; slightly formal
用法筆記
Frequently used in sports, business, and politics to describe conduct that is openly fair rather than secretly dishonest.
常見錯誤
3. not connected with any criminal activity, such as carrying illegal drugs, weapon
not connected with any criminal activity, such as carrying illegal drugs, weapons, or stolen goods, and having no record of past offences.
The police checked Sirin's bag and said she was clean with nothing illegal inside.
Applicants for this job must have a clean criminal record with no past convictions.
collocation: clean criminal record
Security guards checked everyone at the entrance to make sure they were clean.
All athletes must show a clean drug test before they can enter the competition.
The landlord only accepts tenants who can prove they have a clean record.
- law-abiding
describes a person who always follows the law; broader than clean
- innocent
means not guilty of a specific crime; not a direct synonym for having a clean record
- blameless
emphasises moral innocence rather than legal status
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (HONEST): sense 2 describes conduct that is fair and within the rules, while this sense focuses on the absence of any criminal history or illegal items. Commonly appears in police checks, job applications, and background screenings.
常見錯誤
4. free from any content or behaviour that is corrupt, cruel, harmful, or intended
free from any content or behaviour that is corrupt, cruel, harmful, or intended to offend people.
The comedian tried to keep his show clean by avoiding rude jokes about religion.
attributive: a clean show / clean comedy
Many parents look for clean entertainment that the whole family can watch together.
The magazine promised to publish only clean content that is suitable for all ages.
Ramón told us to keep our language clean around the younger children.
The school library only stocks clean books with positive messages for students.
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 5 (DECENT): this sense covers general moral decency and the absence of any harmful or corrupt content, while sense 5 refers specifically to avoiding sexual references.
5. not containing any sexual references, images, or words that could embarrass or o
not containing any sexual references, images, or words that could embarrass or offend people.
This hotel room service offers only clean movies with no adult scenes at all.
collocation: clean movie / clean film
Anong prefers clean humour that everyone can laugh at without feeling awkward.
The radio station plays only clean versions of songs with all strong language removed.
Darius promised to keep his comedy routine clean because the audience included children.
The school asks students to tell clean jokes during the annual talent show event.
- decent
often used interchangeably, though decent is broader in meaning
- wholesome
suggests positively healthy and good, not just non-sexual
- inoffensive
focuses on not causing offence; broader than just sexual content
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 4 (MORAL): sense 4 is about general moral decency and absence of corruption, while this sense is specifically about avoiding sexual or obscene material. Often used in media ratings, parental guidance discussions, and public broadcast standards.
6. no longer using an addictive substance such as an illegal drug or alcohol, after
no longer using an addictive substance such as an illegal drug or alcohol, after a period of dependence on it.
Mark has been clean for two years after he stopped taking drugs completely.
predicative use with duration: has been clean for [period]
The support group helps people who want to stay clean and avoid alcohol.
Hyun feels proud every morning when he wakes up clean and healthy again.
The clinic offers free counselling for people who are trying to get clean.
Caleb celebrated reaching one year clean with a party for his closest friends.
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used predicatively (he is clean) and never before a noun (*a clean person). Frequently followed by a duration: clean for [X years/months]. Can also apply to alcohol (clean and sober).
常見錯誤
7. describes a surface or edge that is smooth, even, and free of bumps, roughness,
describes a surface or edge that is smooth, even, and free of bumps, roughness, or sharp projections
The carpenter ran his hand over the clean edge of the new table.
A clean cut through the leather requires a very sharp knife.
clean + noun describing a smooth cut
Élise admired the clean lines of the modern building's design.
Daichi sanded the wooden surface until it felt perfectly clean and smooth.
- rough
opposite — having an uneven or bumpy surface
用法筆記
Often used of edges, cuts, shapes, and design lines where evenness is the key quality.
8. done with precision and without mistakes, especially describing a movement or ac
done with precision and without mistakes, especially describing a movement or action that shows good training or technique
The surgeon made a clean incision that healed with almost no scarring.
clean + noun describing a skilful action
Tariro's clean catch at the boundary won the match for her team.
The mechanic did a clean job of replacing the brake pads on my car.
Ramón delivered a clean presentation that impressed the whole board of directors.
Zayd played a clean piano recital with no wrong notes and steady timing.
用法筆記
Common with nouns describing actions or results: clean hit, clean throw, clean dive, clean sweep (sports victory). Not used for describing a person themselves (❌ a clean player).
常見錯誤
9. used before a noun to mean 'complete' or 'total', especially when describing a s
used before a noun to mean 'complete' or 'total', especially when describing a separation, escape, or fresh start that leaves nothing behind
The thief made a clean escape before anyone noticed the missing painting.
collocation: clean escape
After the election, the party wanted a clean break with the old policies.
collocation: clean break
The new manager ordered a clean sweep of all outdated procedures.
Caleb made a clean start after moving to a different city last year.
The court ruling gave the company a clean slate to rebuild its reputation.
- partial
incomplete — opposite of total/complete
用法筆記
Only used before a noun (attributive position). Common in fixed phrases: clean break, clean sweep, clean slate, clean start, clean getaway. Cannot be used after a linking verb (❌ The escape was clean).
常見錯誤
10. describes a page, paper, or other writing surface that is blank and has nothing
describes a page, paper, or other writing surface that is blank and has nothing written, printed, or drawn on it yet
The student opened a clean notebook and began writing notes for the class.
Walid pulled a clean sheet of paper from the printer tray for his sketch.
collocation: clean sheet of paper
The teacher handed out clean copies of the test to each student in the room.
Please begin writing your essay on a clean page in the exam booklet.
Lakshmi always kept a clean notepad next to her desk for phone messages.
- written on
already containing writing or marks
- used
already filled or partially filled
用法筆記
Used before a noun (attributive only). Most often with paper, page, sheet, notebook, copy, or form. Not used for electronic documents — the equivalent is 'blank' or 'empty'.
常見錯誤
clean — adverb
1. informally used before a verb or preposition to mean 'completely' or 'all the wa
informally used before a verb or preposition to mean 'completely' or 'all the way', emphasising that an action has no part left unfinished
Yuki clean forgot about her dentist appointment until the clinic called.
clean + forgot (common colloquial pattern)
The sword cut clean through the rope with one smooth motion.
cut clean through (adverb before preposition)
After the flood, the bridge was clean gone — washed away entirely.
Imran's throw missed the target clean and hit the wall behind it.
The shop on Elm Street was clean out of milk by nine in the morning.
- completely
neutral register, works in formal and informal contexts
- totally
slightly less formal than 'completely', common in speech
- entirely
more formal than 'clean'; used in all registers but never in the before-verb slot that 'clean' occupies
文法句型
clean + verb
clean + preposition
用法筆記
Informal sense used mainly in everyday speech and casual writing. The adverb goes immediately before the verb or preposition it modifies. It does not appear in formal academic or business writing.