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

By contrast, he said, today’s manufacturing environments are much cleaner, often requiring high levels of skill.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Um, I have something to talk to you about,” I shout over the roar of the vacuum cleaner.

From Literature

Jurors were told she lived some of the time in the UK where she was provided with a housekeeper, nanny, gardener and window cleaner.

From BBC

"Since only a small number of homes rely on wood burning for heat, facilitating a home-heating appliance transition to cleaner burning or non-burning heat sources could lead to outsized improvements in air quality."

From Science Daily

Many countries are also spending heavily to rearm in a more uncertain world, to finance a transition to cleaner energy, or to care for rapidly aging populations.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cleanser
• disinfectant
• soap