clean
adjective
uk/kliːn/ ushonest and fair, or showing that you have done nothing illegal or morally wrong:
a clean record/report/license Job applicants must have a clean commercial driver's license.
He said the campaign's priorities will be "education and clean government."
ENVIRONMENT
free of, or producing no harmful chemicals or substances:
clean energy/fuel/technology clean energy from renewable sources such as solar and wind power
clean air/water/soil
have clean hands informal
to have never been involved in a dishonest or illegal activity:
An audit proved that neither company had clean hands when it came to reporting profits.
clean
verb
uk/kliːn/ usclean house informal
WORKPLACE
to take action to make an organization operate more honestly and effectively:
Companies like to clean house between chief executives, so as to give the newcomer a positive base to work from.
clean out your desk/office/locker informal
WORKPLACE
used to tell someone they are being removed from their job:
He was told to clean out his desk by noon.
clean up its/your act informal
to start to obey laws or accepted standards of behaviour:
There are still serious questions about whether the company has cleaned up its act since its $11 billion accounting fraud was exposed.
Phrasal verbs
clean sb/sth out
clean sth out
clean up
clean sth up
clean
adverb
uk/kliːn/ uscome clean
to admit the truth about a secret you have been trying to keep:
come clean about/on/over sth Corporate managers were criticized for not coming clean sooner about the company's plans to split.