释义 |
clean I. \ˈklēn\ adjective (-er/-est) Etymology: Middle English clene, from Old English clǣne pure, clear; akin to Old Saxon klēni delicate, dainty, fine, Old High German kleini, Greek glainoi ornaments, Armenian całr laughter; basic meaning: bright, gay 1. a. : free from matter that adulterates, contaminates, or pollutes < add clean mercury to the solution > b. : free from admixture with whatever diminishes the distinctive quality or essential character < the clean thrill of one's first flight > < the clean satisfaction that comes from the stern performance of duty — F.D.Roosevelt > c. of a precious stone : having no interior flaws visible to the unaided eye d. of stock : free of slow-moving goods or inventory 2. a. : free from or freed of dirt, filth, refuse, or remains < wearing clean linen > < requested a clean plate > : free from any putrefying or infecting agent < fowl reared on clean litter > b. : free from disease, often from a specified disease < a pullorum-clean flock > < keep installations clean of TB infection > c. : accustomed to keep free of dirt and foulness < raccoons are cleaner than other cage animals > d. of a domestic animal : that has never been bred e. of a ship : having the bottom free from fouling accumulation f. (1) : free from smudges or anything that tends to obscure < a clean set of fingerprints > (2) of copy : easy to read with corrections clearly and neatly made (3) of typesetting or a proof : relatively free from error — opposed to dirty (4) of a proof : pulled from type in which errors detected on a previous proof have been corrected for sending to the author — compare foul g. of a deer or antlers, Britain : having shed the velvet h. : freeing or freed of weeds and other harmful growth and rubbish and of growth that hinders tillage < the pros and cons of clean culture between fruit trees > < clean farming is detrimental to wild life > 3. a. : free from moral taint or corruption or sinister connections of any kind : guiltless < police confirmed he had had a clean record for two years > < clean candidates are needed for clean government > b. : free from looseness in sex relations : free from offensive treatment of sexual subjects and from the use of obscenity c. : observing the rules : sportsmanlike, fair < a clean fighter > < clean rivalry > d. slang : free from involvement in a matter under police investigation e. slang : carrying no concealed weapons 4. : ceremonially or spiritually pure < … and took of every clean animal … and offered burnt offerings on the altar — Gen 8:20 (Revised Standard Version) > < and all who are clean may eat flesh — Lev 7:19 (Revised Standard Version) > 5. a. : so decisive, complete, or thoroughgoing as to leave no remainder, loose ends, or uncertainty < a clean sweep in the challenge round > < making a clean break with his past > : outright, unreserved, incontestable < a clean beat for his paper > < a clean miss with a torpedo > b. : precisely, deftly, or unerringly directed or executed especially without a trace of strain or awkwardness : faultless < every hunter, if he is a real sportsman, wants quick, clean kills — R.R.Camp > < clean sword work required of a matador > < some clean ballet technique > : showing no deficiency or deviation from a high standard of skill < a steeplechaser must be a clean jumper > c. sports : swiftly, skillfully, and decisively executed : free from error or misjudgment < a clean double play > or played or scored with a decided margin of success or safety < a clean single over second base > < a clean backhand shot > 6. a. : free from obstruction or encumbrance < and I envy the clean straight sweep of your mind — H.J.Laski > b. of cash : in hand subject to no deduction or further liability c. (1) of a bond : free from any endorsement or marks (2) of a bill of lading or ship's receipt : free from any statement about damage or poor condition of goods or containers (3) of a draft or bill of exchange : free from attached documents 7. a. : having simplicity, definiteness, articulateness, and usually gracefulness of form < architecture with clean almost forbiddingly austere lines > specifically : constructed on fine sharp lines < a ship with a clean body slips through the water with little or no disturbance > b. in the arts : marked by straightforward presentation or concise composition : free from nonessential elements or affectation < a clean, spare, expressive prose style > specifically : precise and flawless in execution or reproduction < efforts to obtain a clean bass in orchestral recordings > c. : free from unevenness or irregularity of outline or partition < this saw leaves a clean edge > < a sharp blow causing a clean break > d. archaic, of a party ticket : straight e. of a horse's leg : free from curbs or bunches below the hock f. of an airplane : well streamlined and free from external protuberances or projections that give rise to increased aerodynamic drag g. radio & television : sharply defined and unwavering : free from distortion and interference < a speaker providing clean output > 8. a. : empty especially of what might be expected to be carried or stocked < the whaling ship returned with a clean hold > b. slang : cleaned out of one's money : without funds 9. a. : having a distinctive, unmixed, and fresh quality to the senses < the clean scent of pine > < a clean yellow > b. : marked by no failure or deficiency < a clean record of victories > 10. of an atom bomb or hydrogen bomb : having little or no fallout II. adverb (sometimes -er/-est) Etymology: Middle English clene, from Old English clǣne clearly, purely, from clǣne, adjective 1. a. : in such a manner as to keep or leave free of dirt or refuse < a new broom sweeps clean > : without distortion or error < played the difficult piano accompaniment very clean > b. : in a manner free from cheating or unsportsmanlike conduct < play the game clean > < he doesn't fight clean > c. archaic : precisely, unerringly < the arrow flew clean to the center of the target > 2. : without qualification : thoroughly, entirely, completely < an area burned over clean > < gone clean out of his head > < thrown clean off balance > < my own view is clean contrary — F.R.Leavis > : all the way < a bullet clean through the chest > < clean back to colonial times > : far or remotely < living clean out in the sticks > III. verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English clenen, from clene clean transitive verb 1. : to make clean or free of dirt or any foreign or offensive matter: as a. : to wash with water and soap or with any aqueous liquid medium b. : to bathe, brush, or treat with an acid, alkaline, or organic agent, rub with an oil or cream, or sponge or swab with a disinfectant for removing undesired matter < clean a wound > c. : to wipe or polish especially with a solvent for removing grime < clean the domestic silver > d. : to free of dirt, refuse, or litter and set in order — often used with up < clean up the attic > e. : dry-clean 2. a. : to rid (land) of weeds and rubbish by cultivation — often used with up b. : to scrape (a ship's bottom) free of accretions of barnacles and fouling matter c. : to brush, scrape, or blow clean of dirt or other accumulation — often used with out < clean one's shoes before entering > < specimens from an archaeological excavation need expert cleaning > < clean out a drain > d. (1) : to brush (the teeth) with a cleanser, especially a dentifrice (2) : to perform dental prophylaxis on (the teeth) e. : to blast with grit for removing undesired accumulations < clean a brick wall of layers of paint > f. : to free (a surface) of what adheres, covers, or obstructs (as by brushing, wiping, or scraping) — often used with off < clean off a slate > < clean flues > < earning pocket money by cleaning sidewalks > < hard to clean a windshield of a coating of sleet > g. : to remove cancellation marks from (a stamp) so as to give an appearance of being unused 3. a. : to remove the outer shell, husk, hull, or hairy appendages from < rough rice is cleaned before milling > b. : to free (as by screening) of dirt, chaff, stray weed seeds, and other foreign matter < clean grain coming from the thresher > c. : to gin (cotton) 4. a. : to remove the entrails from : gut, dress < clean fish, fowl, or game > b. : to strip bare or to empty of contents < the lumberjacks quickly cleaned the platter > < the tree was cleaned of fruit by hurricane winds > < a play that cleaned the board of the opponent's checkers > c. slang : to defeat decisively in a contest or competition — sometimes used with up < we took on their best bridge players and cleaned them > d. slang : to deprive wholly of money or possessions in a gambling game, by robbery, or through skulduggery or stock-market speculation — often used with out < they started cleaning him … bit by bit they were taking everything he had, his banks, his factories — Louis Bromfield > < a few disastrous plunges and he found himself cleaned out > e. : to exhaust or strip clean < carp may clean a pond of indigenous fish > prune < clean a roster of inactive members > f. baseball : to empty (the bases) by enabling all base runners to score intransitive verb : to undergo or perform a process of cleaning : become clean — often used with up • - clean house IV. noun (-s) : an act of cleaning dirt especially from the surface of something < give footwear a daily clean with polish > V. adjective 1. slang : smartly dressed 2. : free from drug addiction 3. : having no contraband (as drugs) in one's possession VI. verb • - clean one's clock |