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Definition clean in British English

clean adjective

adjective
/kliːn/
1

not dirty

Example

Go and put on a clean shirt.

Example

nice clean towels

Example

I like to keep the place clean and tidy.

Example

Everything in the house was spotlessly clean (=extremely clean).

Example

Tom had scrubbed the floor clean.

Synonyms and related words
1.1

clean people and animals keep themselves and the places where they live clean

Example

Pigs are actually very clean animals.

Synonyms and related words
1.2

clean air or water has no dirty or dangerous substances in it

Example

Many refugees are living in appalling conditions, without clean water and proper sanitation.

Example

the clean country air

Synonyms and related words
1.3

clean machines and processes do not create a lot of pollution

Example

clean technologies

Example

We already have the cleanest diesel fuel in the world.

2

not guilty of anything illegal or wrong

Example

an attempt by the government to project a clean image

Example

Why couldn't the president send somebody with a totally clean record?

Example

I've got a clean driving licence (=I have not committed any driving offences).

Synonyms and related words
2.1

clean language or humour does not offend people, especially because it does not involve sex

Example

It was all good clean fun.

Example

Keep it clean - there are children listening.

Synonyms and related words
2.2

fair and done according to the rules

Example

It was a good clean fight.

Synonyms and related words
2.3

not carrying anything illegal

Example

The police stopped him, but he was clean.

Synonyms and related words
Example

Carter's been clean for six months.

Synonyms and related words
3

clean shapes, lines, or movements are smooth, regular, or tidy

Example

the clean lines of a good design

Synonyms and related words
4

clean smells, tastes, and colours are light and fresh

Example

The wine is clean and fresh, though with a robust flavour.

Synonyms and related words
5

a clean piece of paper does not have anything written on it

Synonyms and related words
5.1

a clean copy of a document has had all the mistakes in it corrected

Synonyms and related words
6

clean food or clean eating involves eating only foods that are believed to be good for you, especially raw foods and wholefoods

Example

Feed yourself good clean food, not too much, and be active every single day.

Example

For clean eating it's best to use oils from nuts and plants.

Definition clean in British English