cleaner

[klee-ner]

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.

cleaner

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• precleaner noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cleaner¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

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.

Example Sentences

"There's nothing to negotiate. There's nothing we can pull out of this bill to make it any leaner or cleaner than it is," Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said.

From BBC

As a cleaner, there was little I could do except offer words of comfort and assurances that I'd told the care staff.

From BBC

Mohammed Sharwarq, 32, assaulted a cleaner, a head chef and two residents at The Bell Hotel, in Epping, Essex, on 12 August.

From BBC

On Friday, the man who once suggested injecting household cleaners into the lungs could cure COVID-19, took to Truth Social to impart his alleged wisdom.

From Salon

She and her mother had been on their way to drop off a jacket at the dry cleaners when they spotted a group of suspicious-looking men, watching intently from down the street.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cleanser 
• disinfectant 
• soap