Clean

a. [compar. CLEANER; superl. CLEANEST.] [A-S. clæne, of Celtic origin; W. glân, clean, fair, Armor., Gael., & Ir. glan. Cf. O. H. Ger. chleini, subtile, slender, small, N. H. Ger. klein, little, small, neat.]

1Sense 1. Free from dirt or filth; as, clean clothes.

2Sense 2. Free from that which is injurious; without defects; as, clean land; clean timber.

3Sense 3. Free from awkwardness; not bungling; adroit; dextrous; as, a clean trick; a clean boxer.

4Sense 4. Free from restraint or limitation; complete; as, a clean leap over a high fence.

5Sense 5. Free from moral defilement; sinless; pure.

6Sense 6. (Script.) Free from ceremonial defilement.

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Ps. li. 10.

7Sense 7. Free from polluting or loathsome disease, as leprosy. Lev. xiii. 6.

adv. 1. Without limitation or remainder; quite; perfectly; wholly; entirely. “Domestic broils clean overblown.” Shak.

All the people were passed clean over Jordan. Josh. iii. 17.

2Sense 2. Without miscarriage; dextrously.

Pope came off clean with Homer. Henley.

[imp. & p. p. CLEANED; p. pr. & vb. n. CLEANING.] [A-S. clænan, W. glanan, Armor. glana. Gael. & Ir. glan. See CLEAN, a.] To render clean; to free from whatever is foul, noxious, offensive, or extraneous; to purify; to cleanse.