VIDEO FOR CLEAN

WATCH NOW: Why Is It So Hard To Keep Things Clean?

No matter how many times you clean something, it always gets dirty again. Why?! Well, actually, that unobtainable sense of perfection goes all the way back to this word's origin. Take a look.

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Idioms for clean

Origin of clean

before 900; Middle English clene, Old English clǣne pure, clear, cognate with Old High German kleini (German klein small)

synonym study for clean

1. Clean, clear, pure refer to freedom from soiling, flaw, stain, or mixture. Clean refers especially to freedom from soiling: a clean shirt. Clear refers particularly to freedom from flaw or blemish: a clear pane of glass. Pure refers especially to freedom from mixture or stain: a pure metal; not diluted but pure and full strength. 35. Clean, cleanse refer to removing dirt or impurities. To clean is the general word with no implication of method or means: to clean windows, a kitchen, streets. Cleanse is especially used of thorough cleaning by chemical or other technical process; figuratively it applies to moral or spiritual purification: to cleanse parts of machinery; to cleanse one's soul of guilt.

OTHER WORDS FROM clean

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH clean

clean cleanse (see synonym study at the current entry) cleanliness cleanness

Example sentences from the Web for clean

British Dictionary definitions for clean

See also clean out, clean up

Derived forms of clean

cleanable, adjective cleanness, noun

Word Origin for clean

Old English clǣne; related to Old Frisian klēne small, neat, Old High German kleini

Idioms and Phrases with clean

clean