being or affecting or concerned with a surface; not deep or penetrating emotionally or intellectually; "superficial similarities"; "a superficial mind"; "his thinking was superficial and fuzzy"; "superficial knowledge"; "the superficial report didn't give the true picture"; "only superficial differences"
of little substance or significance; "a few superficial editorial changes"; "only trivial objections"
relating to a surface; "superficial measurements"; "the superficial area of the wall"
expressing or feeling or resulting from sympathy or compassion or friendly fellow feelings; disposed toward; "sympathetic to the students' cause"; "a sympathetic observer"; "a sympathetic gesture"
(of characters in literature or drama) evoking empathic or sympathetic feelings; "the sympathetic characters in the play"
of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system; "sympathetic neurons"; "sympathetic stimulation"
free of drugs; "after a long dependency on heroin she has been clean for 4 years"
free from clumsiness; precisely or deftly executed; "he landed a clean left on his opponent's cheek"; "a clean throw"; "the neat exactness of the surgeon's knife"
not carrying concealed weapons
(of a record) having no marks of discredit or offense; "a clean voting record"; "a clean driver's license"
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits; "children with clean shining faces"; "clean white shirts"; "clean dishes"; "a spotlessly clean house"; "cats are clean animals"
(of behavior or especially language) free from objectionable elements; fit for all observers; "good clean fun"; "a clean joke"
not spreading pollution or contamination; especially radioactive contamination; "a clean fuel"; "cleaner and more efficient engines"; "the tactical bomb is reasonably clean"
ritually clean or pure
thorough and without qualification; "a clean getaway"; "a clean sweep"; "a clean break"
exhibiting or calling for sportsmanship or fair play; "a clean fight"; "a sporting solution of the disagreement"; "sportsmanlike conduct"
(of a manuscript) having few alterations or corrections; "fair copy"; "a clean manuscript"
morally pure; "led a clean life"
without difficulties or problems; "a clean test flight"
free from impurities; "clean water"; "fresh air"
(of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims; "efforts to obtain a clean bass in orchestral recordings"; "clear laughter like a waterfall"; "clear reds and blues"; "a light lilting voice like a silver bell"
free of restrictions or qualifications; "a clean bill of health"; "a clear winner"
completely; used as intensifiers; "clean forgot the appointment"; "I'm plumb (or plum) tuckered out"
remove unwanted substances from, such as feathers or pits; "Clean the turkey"
remove shells or husks from; "clean grain before milling it"
remove while making clean; "Clean the spots off the rug"
make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from; "Clean the stove!"; "The dentist cleaned my teeth"
remove all contents or possession from, or empty completely; "The boys cleaned the sandwich platters"; "The trees were cleaned of apples by the storm"
deprive wholly of money in a gambling game, robbery, etc.; "The other players cleaned him completely"
aware or expressing awareness of things as they really are; "a realistic description"; "a realistic view of the possibilities"; "a realistic appraisal of our chances"; "the actors tried to create a realistic portrayal of the Africans"
of or relating to the philosophical doctrine of realism; "a realistic system of thought"
based on or having the nature of an illusion; "illusive hopes of finding a better job"; "Secret activities offer presidents the alluring but often illusory promise that they can achieve foreign policy goals without the bothersome debate and open decision that are staples of democracy"
having been learned or found or determined especially by investigation
characterized by great determination; "a struggle against a determined enemy"
determined or decided upon as by an authority; "date and place are already determined"; "the dictated terms of surrender"; "the time set for the launching"
devoting full strength and concentrated attention to; "made continued and determined efforts to find and destroy enemy headquarters"