housecleaning

[ hous-klee-ning ]
/ ˈhaʊsˌkli nɪŋ /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR housecleaning ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of cleaning a house, room, etc., and its furnishings, especially the act of cleaning thoroughly and completely.
the act of improving or reforming by weeding out excess or corrupt personnel or of revising methods of operation.

Origin of housecleaning

First recorded in 1860–65; house + cleaning

Words nearby housecleaning

housebreaking, housebroken, housecarl, housecat, houseclean, housecleaning, housecoat, housed string, housedress, housefather, housefly

Definition for housecleaning (2 of 2)

houseclean
[ hous-kleen ]
/ ˈhaʊsˌklin /

verb (used with object)

to subject (a house, room, etc.) to housecleaning.

verb (used without object)

to engage in housecleaning.

Origin of houseclean

First recorded in 1860–65; back formation from housecleaning

OTHER WORDS FROM houseclean

house·clean·er, noun

Words related to housecleaning

layoff, dissolution, dispossession, displacement, bounce, eviction, ostracism, exile, deportation, exorcism, end, removal, liberation, suspension, notice, door, permission, deposition, expatriation, discharge

Example sentences from the Web for housecleaning