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come clean

 - 7 dictionary results

clean

[kleen] adjective, -er, -est, adverb, -er, -est, verb
–adjective
1. free from dirt; unsoiled; unstained: She bathed and put on a clean dress.
2. free from foreign or extraneous matter: clean sand.
3. free from pollution; unadulterated; pure: clean air; clean water.
4. habitually free of dirt: Cats are considered clean animals.
5. characterized by a fresh, wholesome quality: the clean smell of pine.
6. free from all writing or marking: a clean sheet of paper.
7. having few or no corrections; easily readable: The publisher demanded clean proofs from the printer.
8. free from roughness or irregularity: He made a clean cut with a razor.
9. not ornate; gracefully spare; forceful and simple; trim; streamlined: a clean literary style; the clean lines of a ship.
10. complete; unqualified: a clean break with tradition.
11. morally pure; innocent; upright; honorable: to lead a clean life.
12. showing good sportsmanship; fair: a clean fighter.
13. inoffensive in language or content; without obscenity.
14. (of a document, record, etc.) bearing no marks of discreditable or unlawful conduct; listing no offenses: a clean driver's license.
15. Slang.
a. innocent of any crime.
b. not having a criminal record.
c. carrying or containing no evidence of unlawful activity or intent, as controlled substances, unlicensed weapons, or contraband: The agents searched the car for drugs, but it was clean.
d. not using narcotics.
16. (of a nuclear weapon) producing little or no radioactive fallout.
17. not radioactive.
18. (of a document or financial instrument) free from qualifications or restrictions: a clean bill of lading.
19. free from defects or flaws: a clean diamond.
20. free from encumbrances or obstructions.
21. neatly or evenly made or proportioned; shapely; trim: a clean profile.
22. made without any unanticipated difficulty or interference: The bank robbers made a clean getaway.
23. Chiefly Biblical. having no physical or moral blemish or carrying no taboo so as to make impure according to the laws, esp. the dietary or ceremonial laws: a clean animal; clean persons.
24. dexterously performed; adroit: a clean serve in tennis.
25. (of a jump over an obstacle) made without touching the obstacle.
26. Slang. having no direct associations, business interests, etc., that could prejudice one's official acts or decisions: The new governor is clean because he's sold his construction business and doesn't owe political favors to anyone.
27. Slang. without money or funds.
28. (of wine) having a taste that is unusually refreshing and smooth.
29. Nautical. (of an anchorage, harbor, etc.) free of obstructions or hazards (opposed to foul ).
30. (of the legs of a horse) free from injury or blemish, as capped hocks, splints, or scars.
31. Foreign Exchange. (of currency floats) not influenced by exchange-rate manipulation (opposed to dirty ).
–adverb
32. in a clean manner; cleanly: Nobody wants to box with him because he doesn't fight clean.
33. so as to be clean: This shirt will never wash clean.
34. Informal. wholly; completely; quite: The sharp carving knife sliced clean through the roast. In a year, he had gone clean through his inheritance.
–verb (used with object)
35. to make clean: Clean those dirty shoes.
36. to remove or consume the contents of; empty; clear: She sat down to dinner ravenous and within five minutes had cleaned her plate.
37. to dry-clean.
38. to remove the entrails and other inedible parts from (poultry, fish, etc.); dress.
39. Slang. to take away or win all or almost all the money or possessions of (often fol. by out): The cards were marked and I got cleaned.
40. Metallurgy. to remove the seams from (a casting) by filing or grinding.
41. Philately. to delete intentionally the cancellation from (a postage or revenue stamp).
–verb (used without object)
42. to perform or undergo a process of cleaning: This kind of fabric cleans easily. Detergents clean better than most soaps.
43. to get rid of dirt, soil, etc. (often fol. by up): to spend the morning cleaning.
44. clean out,
a. to empty in order to straighten or clean.
b. to use up; exhaust: He had cleaned out his savings.
c. Informal. to drive out by force.
d. to empty or rid (a place) of occupants, contents, etc.: Eager customers cleaned out the store on the first day of the sale. The thief cleaned out the safe.
e. Slang. to cause to lose all or almost all one's money or possessions.
45. clean up,
a. to wash or tidy up.
b. to rid of undesirable persons or features: They cleaned up the local bars.
c. to put an end to; finish: to clean up yesterday's chores.
d. Informal. to make a large profit: They cleaned up in the stock market.
46. clean full, Nautical.
a. (of a sail or sails) filled with wind; rap full.
b. (of a sailing vessel) with all sails full of wind; rap full.
47. clean house, to wipe out corruption, inefficiency, etc., as in an organization: It's time for the city government to clean house.
48. clean up one's act. act (def. 27).
49. come clean, Slang. to tell the truth, esp. to admit one's guilt.

Origin:
bef. 900; ME clene, OE clǣne pure, clear, c. OHG kleini (G klein small)


cleanness, noun


1. neat, immaculate. Clean, clear, pure refer to freedom from soiling, flaw, stain, or mixture. Clean refers esp. to freedom from soiling: a clean shirt. Clear refers particularly to freedom from flaw or blemish: a clear pane of glass. Pure refers esp. to freedom from mixture or stain: a pure metal; not diluted but pure and full strength. 7. legible. 11. unsullied, chaste, virtuous. 19. unblemished, flawless. 34. entirely, thoroughly. 35. scour, scrub, sweep, brush, wipe, mop, dust, wash, rinse, lave, deterge, purify, clear; decontaminate. Clean, cleanse refer to removing dirt or impurities. To clean is the general word with no implication of method or means: to clean windows, a kitchen, streets. Cleanse is esp. used of thorough cleaning by chemical or other technical process; figuratively it applies to moral or spiritual purification: to cleanse parts of machinery; to cleanse one's soul of guilt.


1. dirty. 17. contaminated, radioactive. 35. soil.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To come clean
come   (kŭm)   
intr.v.   came (kām), come, com·ing, comes
    1. To advance toward the speaker or toward a specified place; approach: Come to me.

    2. To advance in a specified manner: The children came reluctantly when I insisted.

    3. To make progress; advance: a former drug addict who has come a long way.

    4. To fare: How are things coming today? They're coming fine.

    5. To reach a particular point in a series or as a result of orderly progression: At last we came to the chapter on ergonomics.

    6. To arrive, as in due course: Dawn comes at 5 A.M. in June.

    7. To arrive at a particular result or end: come to an understanding.

    8. To arrive at or reach a particular state or condition: Come to your senses!

    9. To move or be brought to a particular position: The convoy came to an abrupt halt.

    10. To issue forth: A cry came from the frightened child.

    11. To be derived; originate: Oaks come from acorns.

    12. To be descended: They come from a good family.

    13. To be within a given range or spectrum of reference or application: This stipulation comes within the terms of your contract.

    14. To become: The knot came loose. This is a dream that has come true.

    15. To turn out to be: A good education doesn't come cheap.

    1. To make progress; advance: a former drug addict who has come a long way.

    2. To fare: How are things coming today? They're coming fine.

    3. To reach a particular point in a series or as a result of orderly progression: At last we came to the chapter on ergonomics.

    4. To arrive, as in due course: Dawn comes at 5 A.M. in June.

    5. To arrive at a particular result or end: come to an understanding.

    6. To arrive at or reach a particular state or condition: Come to your senses!

    7. To move or be brought to a particular position: The convoy came to an abrupt halt.

    8. To issue forth: A cry came from the frightened child.

    9. To be derived; originate: Oaks come from acorns.

    10. To be descended: They come from a good family.

    11. To be within a given range or spectrum of reference or application: This stipulation comes within the terms of your contract.

    12. To become: The knot came loose. This is a dream that has come true.

    13. To turn out to be: A good education doesn't come cheap.

    1. To reach a particular point in a series or as a result of orderly progression: At last we came to the chapter on ergonomics.

    2. To arrive, as in due course: Dawn comes at 5 A.M. in June.

    3. To arrive at a particular result or end: come to an understanding.

    4. To arrive at or reach a particular state or condition: Come to your senses!

    5. To move or be brought to a particular position: The convoy came to an abrupt halt.

    6. To issue forth: A cry came from the frightened child.

    7. To be derived; originate: Oaks come from acorns.

    8. To be descended: They come from a good family.

    9. To be within a given range or spectrum of reference or application: This stipulation comes within the terms of your contract.

    10. To become: The knot came loose. This is a dream that has come true.

    11. To turn out to be: A good education doesn't come cheap.

  1. To move into view; appear: The moon came over the horizon.

  2. To occur in time; take place: The game will be played tomorrow, come rain or shine.

    1. To arrive at a particular result or end: come to an understanding.

    2. To arrive at or reach a particular state or condition: Come to your senses!

    3. To move or be brought to a particular position: The convoy came to an abrupt halt.

    4. To issue forth: A cry came from the frightened child.

    5. To be derived; originate: Oaks come from acorns.

    6. To be descended: They come from a good family.

    7. To be within a given range or spectrum of reference or application: This stipulation comes within the terms of your contract.

    8. To become: The knot came loose. This is a dream that has come true.

    9. To turn out to be: A good education doesn't come cheap.

  3. To extend; reach: water that came to my waist.

  4. To have priority; rank: My work comes first.

  5. To happen as a result: This mess comes of your carelessness.

  6. To fall to one: No good can come of this.

  7. To occur in the mind: A good idea just came to me.

    1. To issue forth: A cry came from the frightened child.

    2. To be derived; originate: Oaks come from acorns.

    3. To be descended: They come from a good family.

    4. To be within a given range or spectrum of reference or application: This stipulation comes within the terms of your contract.

    5. To become: The knot came loose. This is a dream that has come true.

    6. To turn out to be: A good education doesn't come cheap.

  8. To be a native or resident: My friend comes from Chicago.

  9. To add up to a certain amount: Expenses came to more than income.

    1. To become: The knot came loose. This is a dream that has come true.

    2. To turn out to be: A good education doesn't come cheap.

  10. To be available or obtainable: shoes that come in all sizes.

  11. Vulgar Slang To experience orgasm.

n.   Vulgar Slang also cum (kŭm)
Semen ejaculated during orgasm.
Phrasal Verbs:
come about
  1. To take place; happen.

  2. To turn around.

  3. Nautical To change tack.

  4. To meet or find by chance: came across my old college roommate in town today.

  5. Slang

    1. To do what is wanted.

    2. To pay over money that is demanded: came across with the check.

    3. To pass or be handed down by tradition: customs that come down from colonial times.

    4. To be handed down from a higher authority: An indictment finally came down.

    5. To arrive: Fall clothes will be coming in soon.

    6. To become available for use: New weather information just came in.

    7. To start producing. Used of an oil well.

    8. To progress or advance in increments: Darkness came on after seven.

    9. To begin in small increments or by degrees: Sleet came on after one o'clock.

    10. To become manifest: The parents' tenderness comes through in their facial expressions.

    11. To be communicated: The coach's displeasure came through loud and clear.

    12. To bring the bow into the wind.

    13. To anchor.

  6. To give an impression: "He comes across as a very sincere, religious individual" (William L. Clay).

  7. To make advances to a goal; progress: Things are coming along fine.

  8. To go with someone else who takes the lead: I'll come along on the hike.

  9. To show up; appear: Don't take the first offer that comes along.

  10. To recover, revive: fainted but soon came around.

  11. To change one's opinion or position: You'll come around after you hear the whole story.

  12. To obtain; get: come at an education through study.

  13. To rush at; attack.

  14. To return to or regain past success after a period of misfortune.

  15. To retort; reply: came back with a sharp riposte.

  16. To recur to the memory: It's all coming back to me now.

  17. To gain possession of; acquire: Mortgages are hard to come by.

  18. To pay a visit.

  19. To lose wealth or position: He has really come down in the world.

    1. To pass or be handed down by tradition: customs that come down from colonial times.

    2. To be handed down from a higher authority: An indictment finally came down.

    3. To arrive: Fall clothes will be coming in soon.

    4. To become available for use: New weather information just came in.

    5. To start producing. Used of an oil well.

    6. To progress or advance in increments: Darkness came on after seven.

    7. To begin in small increments or by degrees: Sleet came on after one o'clock.

    8. To become manifest: The parents' tenderness comes through in their facial expressions.

    9. To be communicated: The coach's displeasure came through loud and clear.

    10. To bring the bow into the wind.

    11. To anchor.

  20. Slang To happen; occur: What's coming down tonight?

  21. Slang To experience diminishing effects of a recreational or hallucinogenic drug.

    1. To arrive: Fall clothes will be coming in soon.

    2. To become available for use: New weather information just came in.

    3. To start producing. Used of an oil well.

    4. To progress or advance in increments: Darkness came on after seven.

    5. To begin in small increments or by degrees: Sleet came on after one o'clock.

    6. To become manifest: The parents' tenderness comes through in their facial expressions.

    7. To be communicated: The coach's displeasure came through loud and clear.

    8. To bring the bow into the wind.

    9. To anchor.

  22. To arrive among those who finish a contest or race: came in fifth.

  23. To perform or function in a particular way: A food processor comes in handy.

  24. To reply in a specified manner to a call or signal: The pilot's voice came in loud and clear.

  25. To take on a specified role: When editorial review commences, that's where you come in.

  26. To happen; occur: The trip came off on schedule.

  27. To acquit oneself: She is sure to come off badly if challenged to explain.

  28. To turn out to be successful: a party that came off.

  29. To convey a particular personal image: comes on as an old-fashioned reactionary.

  30. Slang To show sexual interest in someone: trying to come on to me during the party.

    1. To progress or advance in increments: Darkness came on after seven.

    2. To begin in small increments or by degrees: Sleet came on after one o'clock.

    3. To become manifest: The parents' tenderness comes through in their facial expressions.

    4. To be communicated: The coach's displeasure came through loud and clear.

    5. To bring the bow into the wind.

    6. To anchor.

  31. To hurry up; move rapidly. Often used in the imperative: Would you please come on! We'll be late!

  32. To stop an inappropriate behavior; abandon a position or an attitude; be obliging. Used chiefly in the imperative: You've used the same feeble excuse for weeks. Come on!

  33. To become known: The whole story came out at the trial.

  34. To be issued or brought out: The author's new book just came out.

  35. To make a formal social debut: She came out at age 18 in New York City.

  36. To end up; result: Everything came out wrong.

  37. To declare oneself publicly: The governor came out in favor of tax breaks.

  38. To reveal that one is a gay man, a lesbian, or a bisexual.

  39. To change sides, as in a controversy.

  40. To pay a casual visit.

  41. To do what is required or anticipated: I asked for their help, and they came through.

    1. To become manifest: The parents' tenderness comes through in their facial expressions.

    2. To be communicated: The coach's displeasure came through loud and clear.

    3. To bring the bow into the wind.

    4. To anchor.

  42. To recover consciousness: The fainting victim came to.

  43. Nautical

    1. To bring the bow into the wind.

    2. To anchor.

  44. To manifest itself; arise: The question never came up.

  45. To rise above the horizon: The sun came up.

  46. To rise, as in status or rank: a general who came up from the ranks.

  47. To draw near; approach: came up and said hello.

Phrasal Verb(s):
come about
  1. To take place; happen.

  2. To turn around.

  3. Nautical To change tack.

come across
  1. To meet or find by chance: came across my old college roommate in town today.

  2. Slang

    1. To do what is wanted.

    2. To pay over money that is demanded: came across with the check.

  3. To give an impression: "He comes across as a very sincere, religious individual" (William L. Clay).

come along
  1. To make advances to a goal; progress: Things are coming along fine.

  2. To go with someone else who takes the lead: I'll come along on the hike.

  3. To show up; appear: Don't take the first offer that comes along.

come around/round
  1. To recover, revive: fainted but soon came around.

  2. To change one's opinion or position: You'll come around after you hear the whole story.

come at
  1. To obtain; get: come at an education through study.

  2. To rush at; attack.

come back
  1. To return to or regain past success after a period of misfortune.

  2. To retort; reply: came back with a sharp riposte.

  3. To recur to the memory: It's all coming back to me now.

come betweenTo cause to be in conflict or estrangement.
come by
  1. To gain possession of; acquire: Mortgages are hard to come by.

  2. To pay a visit.

come down
  1. To lose wealth or position: He has really come down in the world.

    1. To pass or be handed down by tradition: customs that come down from colonial times.

    2. To be handed down from a higher authority: An indictment finally came down.

  2. Slang To happen; occur: What's coming down tonight?

  3. Slang To experience diminishing effects of a recreational or hallucinogenic drug.

come in
    1. To arrive: Fall clothes will be coming in soon.

    2. To become available for use: New weather information just came in.

    3. To start producing. Used of an oil well.

  1. To arrive among those who finish a contest or race: came in fifth.

  2. To perform or function in a particular way: A food processor comes in handy.

  3. To reply in a specified manner to a call or signal: The pilot's voice came in loud and clear.

  4. To take on a specified role: When editorial review commences, that's where you come in.

come intoTo acquire, especially as an inheritance: She came into a fortune on her 21st birthday.
come off
  1. To happen; occur: The trip came off on schedule.

  2. To acquit oneself: She is sure to come off badly if challenged to explain.

  3. To turn out to be successful: a party that came off.

come on
  1. To convey a particular personal image: comes on as an old-fashioned reactionary.

  2. Slang To show sexual interest in someone: trying to come on to me during the party.

    1. To progress or advance in increments: Darkness came on after seven.

    2. To begin in small increments or by degrees: Sleet came on after one o'clock.

  3. To hurry up; move rapidly. Often used in the imperative: Would you please come on! We'll be late!

  4. To stop an inappropriate behavior; abandon a position or an attitude; be obliging. Used chiefly in the imperative: You've used the same feeble excuse for weeks. Come on!

come out
  1. To become known: The whole story came out at the trial.

  2. To be issued or brought out: The author's new book just came out.

  3. To make a formal social debut: She came out at age 18 in New York City.

  4. To end up; result: Everything came out wrong.

  5. To declare oneself publicly: The governor came out in favor of tax breaks.

  6. To reveal that one is a gay man, a lesbian, or a bisexual.

come over
  1. To change sides, as in a controversy.

  2. To pay a casual visit.

come through
  1. To do what is required or anticipated: I asked for their help, and they came through.

    1. To become manifest: The parents' tenderness comes through in their facial expressions.

    2. To be communicated: The coach's displeasure came through loud and clear.

come to
  1. To recover consciousness: The fainting victim came to.

  2. Nautical

    1. To bring the bow into the wind.

    2. To anchor.

come up
  1. To manifest itself; arise: The question never came up.

  2. To rise above the horizon: The sun came up.

  3. To rise, as in status or rank: a general who came up from the ranks.

  4. To draw near; approach: came up and said hello.

come uponTo discover or meet by accident.
come with Informal To accompany someone; go along: I'm going to the store; do you want to come with?

Idiom(s):
come a cropperTo fail utterly.

Idiom(s):
come againUsed as a request to repeat what was said.

Idiom(s):
come cleanTo confess all.

Idiom(s):
come down onTo punish, oppose, or reprimand severely and often with force: a district attorney who came down hard on drug dealers.

Idiom(s):
come down to
  1. To confront or deal with forthrightly: When you come right down to it, you have to admit I'm correct.

  2. To amount to in essence: It comes down to this: the man is a cheat.


Idiom(s):
come down withTo become sick with (an illness): came down with the flu.

Idiom(s):
come in forTo receive; be subjected to: came in for harsh criticism.

Idiom(s):
come into (one's) own
  1. To get possession of what belongs to one.

  2. To obtain rightful recognition or prosperity: a concert pianist who has at last come into his own.


Idiom(s):
come off it Slang To stop acting or speaking foolishly or pretentiously. Often used in the imperative.

Idiom(s):
come out with
  1. To put into words; say: always comes out with the truth.

  2. To reveal publicly: came out with a new tax package.


Idiom(s):
come to blowsTo begin a physical fight.

Idiom(s):
come to griefTo meet with disaster; fail.

Idiom(s):
come to grips withTo confront squarely and attempt to deal decisively with: "He had to come to grips with the proposition" (Louis Auchincloss).

Idiom(s):
come to light/handTo be clearly revealed or disclosed: "A further problem . . . came to light last summer as a result of post-flight inspections" (John Noble Wilford).

Idiom(s):
come to terms
  1. To confront squarely and come to understand fully and objectively: "He attempts to come to terms with his own early experiences . . . and with his father, a con man of extravagant dimensions" (Peter S. Prescott).

  2. To reach mutual agreement: The warring factions have at last come to terms.


Idiom(s):
come trueTo happen as predicted: My fondest dreams have at last come true.

Idiom(s):
come up againstTo encounter, especially a difficulty or major problem.

Idiom(s):
come up withTo bring forth, discover, or produce: came up with a cure for the disease.

[Middle English comen, from Old English cuman; see gwā- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary
clean (so)

  1. tv.
    to get all of someone's money. (See also cleaned out.) : The bill for supper cleaned me out, and we couldn't go to the flick.
  2. tv.
    to empty someone's bowels. (See also cleaned out.) : That medicine I took really cleaned me out.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

clean 
O.E. clæne "clean, pure," from W.Gmc. *klainoz "clear, pure," from PIE base *gel- "to gleam" (cf. Gk. glene "eyeball," O.Ir. gel "bright"). As an adj., replaced in higher senses by clear, pure, but as a verb (c.1450) it has largely usurped what once belonged to cleanse (from O.E. clænsian), which, despite its modern spelling (16c.) retains its M.E. pronunciation. Clean in the sense of "innocent" is from c.1300; that of "not lewd" is from 1867; that of "free of drug addiction" is 1950s. Clean up "make a large profit" is from 1929. To take (someone) to the cleaners "get all of (someone's) money" is from 1932.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: clean
Function: adjective
: free of amendments or annotations
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 2clean
Function: transitive verb
1 : to brush (the teeth) with a cleanser (as a dentifrice)
2 : to perform dentalprophylaxis on (the teeth)
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Idioms & Phrases

come clean

Confess everything, as in If you come clean about what happened I will promise to keep it to myself. [Slang; early 1900s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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