cleaner

American  

[klee-ner] / ˈkli nər /

noun

1. a person who cleans, especially one whose regular occupation is cleaning cleaning offices, buildings, equipment, etc.

2. an apparatus or machine for cleaning, cleaning, as a vacuum cleaner.

3. a preparation for use in cleaning, cleaning, as a detergent or chemical bleach.

4. the owner or operator of a dry-cleaning establishment.

   The cleaner said he couldn't get the spot off my coat.

5. Usually cleaners. a dry-cleaning establishment.

   My suit is at the cleaners.

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idioms

1. take to the cleaners, to cause to lose all or a great deal of one's money or personal property, as through gambling or a bad investment.

   He got taken to the cleaners in the poker game last night.

cleaner British  

/ ˈkliːnə /

noun

1. a person, device, chemical agent, etc, that removes dirt, as from clothes or carpets

2. (usually plural) a shop, etc that provides a dry-cleaning service

3. informal to rob or defraud a person of all of his money

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Other Word Forms

• precleaner noun

Etymology

Origin of cleaner

First recorded in 1425–75, cleaner is from the late Middle English word clener. See clean, -er ¹

Example Sentences

And then look up four hours later and realize your kitchen doesn’t actually feel any cleaner.

From Salon

“Well, let’s go upstairs where we can talk over old times. That old clock cleaner still around?”

From Literature

The reality is that our population has more than doubled since 1950, our air and water have gotten cleaner, and obesity is a much bigger problem than hunger.

From The Wall Street Journal

Dati -- soon to go on trial for graft charges she denies -- has vowed to make the city cleaner and safer, pledging to improve rubbish collection, give weapons to municipal police officers and increase video surveillance.

From Barron's

It smelled faintly damp — a mingling of industrial carpet cleaner and coffee that had been sitting on a warming plate too long.

From Salon

Related Words

• cleanser
• disinfectant
• soap