cleaner
gb/klˈinɚ/ us/klˈinɚ/
A1
English
~ 5600
takarító, tisztítószer, tisztább, tisztítógép, tisztító, vegytisztító
NOUN
A2
1
takarító
A2
Usage pattern:
a/the cleaner cleans [a place]
We pay a cleaner to come once a week and do the bathrooms and floors.
Fizetünk egy takarítónak, hogy hetente egyszer eljöjjön, és kitakarítsa a fürdőszobákat meg felmossa a padlót.
The office cleaner usually empties the bins after everyone has gone home.
Az irodai takarító általában azután üríti ki a szemeteseket, hogy mindenki hazament.
She works as a school cleaner in the early mornings before classes start.
They hired a cleaner to get the apartment ready for the new tenants.
Our regular cleaner is on holiday, so the manager asked us to tidy our own desks.
Learner examples
We have a cleaner who comes every Friday.
Van egy takarítónk, aki minden pénteken jön.
The cleaner washes the floor in the evening.
A takarító este felmossa a padlót.
My aunt works as a cleaner in a big office.
They hired a cleaner because they are very busy.
The cleaner opened the window and started to dust the shelves.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"cleaning woman"* or *"cleaning man"* in all contexts. While these are understood, *cleaner* is more common and gender-neutral in modern English.
Meaning
person paid to clean places
Collocations
office cleaner
|professional cleaner
|domestic cleaner
|hire a cleaner
|cleaner comes in
Synonyms
housekeeper (Often suggests regular work in one home and may include cooking or other tasks, not only cleaning.)
|
janitor (Mainly North American; usually works in a school or large building and may also do small repairs.)
Antonyms
tenant (A person who lives or works in a building but does not clean it professionally.)
Themes
work
|daily life
|home
|daily_life
Definition
A person who is paid to clean homes, offices, or other places.
A person whose job is to clean houses, offices, or other buildings, especially for pay.
NOUN
B1
2
tisztítószer
B1
Usage pattern:
[type] cleaner for [surface]
Use a mild glass cleaner so you don't leave streaks on the windows.
Használj kímélő üvegtisztítót, hogy ne maradjanak csíkok az ablakokon.
This oven cleaner is strong enough to remove burned-on grease.
Ez a sütőtisztító elég erős ahhoz, hogy eltávolítsa a ráégett zsírt.
She bought an eco-friendly floor cleaner at the supermarket.
Always wear gloves when using powerful bathroom cleaners.
The label says this cleaner is safe for wood surfaces.
Learner examples
I need some glass cleaner for the windows.
Kell egy kis üvegtisztító az ablakokhoz.
This cleaner is only for the kitchen floor.
Ez a tisztítószer csak a konyhapadlóra való.
He used a special cleaner to remove the mark.
The smell of the bathroom cleaner is very strong.
Please do not mix this cleaner with other products.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"cleaner for clean"* instead of *"cleaner for cleaning"* or *"cleaner for the floor"*. Use a noun after *cleaner*, such as the surface or object you are cleaning.
Meaning
chemical or liquid for cleaning
Collocations
glass cleaner
|oven cleaner
|bathroom cleaner
|all-purpose cleaner
|spray cleaner
Synonyms
cleaning product (More general and slightly more formal; can include tools and cloths as well as liquids.)
|
detergent (More technical; often refers to products for washing clothes or dishes.)
Antonyms
stain (A mark or spot of dirt that a cleaner is used to remove.)
Themes
home
|daily life
|daily_life
Definition
A product, usually a liquid, that you use to clean things like glass, floors, or bathrooms.
A substance, especially a liquid or chemical product, used to remove dirt, stains, or marks from something.
A1
3
tisztább
A2
Usage pattern:
[something] is cleaner than [something]
The kitchen looks much cleaner now that you've done the dishes.
A konyha sokkal tisztább most, hogy elmosogattál.
Electric cars are considered cleaner than petrol cars.
Az elektromos autókat tisztábbnak tartják, mint a benzines autókat.
This hotel room is cleaner and brighter than the one we had last year.
After the rain, the air felt cleaner and fresher.
She wants to live in a cleaner, quieter neighborhood.
Learner examples
My hands are cleaner now.
Most már tisztább a kezem.
This shirt is cleaner than that one.
Ez az ing tisztább, mint az a másik.
The city is cleaner than it was before.
Solar power is cleaner than coal.
Your room will be cleaner if you put your clothes away.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *more clean* where *cleaner* is more natural (e.g., *"This room is cleaner"*, not *"This room is more clean"*). *More clean* is not wrong but sounds less common in everyday speech.
Meaning
more clean; less dirty
Collocations
cleaner than before
|cleaner and safer
|cleaner energy
|cleaner environment
Synonyms
more hygienic (Emphasizes health and absence of germs, often more formal or technical.)
Antonyms
dirtier (Comparative form of 'dirty', meaning having more dirt or mess.)
Themes
daily life
|environment
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Definition
More clean; having less dirt or mess than another thing or than before.
The comparative form of ‘clean’: having less dirt or mess than something or than before.
NOUN
B1
4
tisztítógép
B1
Usage pattern:
use the cleaner on [surface]
The cleaner is in the cupboard under the stairs if you need to vacuum.
Ha porszívózni szeretnél, a porszívó a lépcső alatti szekrényben van.
We rented a carpet cleaner to freshen the living room.
Béreltünk egy szőnyegtisztító gépet, hogy felfrissítsük a nappalit.
This steam cleaner is great for getting marks off the tiles.
He bought a small handheld cleaner to use in the car.
The old cleaner finally broke, so they ordered a new one online.
Learner examples
The cleaner is very noisy when it is on.
A tisztítógép nagyon hangos, amikor be van kapcsolva.
We use a cleaner to clean the carpet.
Szőnyegtisztító gépet használunk a szőnyeg kitisztításához.
She put the cleaner back in the closet.
He bought a new cleaner for his small apartment.
I need the cleaner to remove the dust from the floor.
Common mistake:
Learners may think *cleaner* always means a person. In sentences like *"The cleaner is broken"*, context shows it refers to a machine, not a worker.
Meaning
machine used for cleaning
Collocations
vacuum cleaner
|steam cleaner
|carpet cleaner
|handheld cleaner
Synonyms
vacuum (Informal shortening of 'vacuum cleaner', mainly for cleaning floors and carpets.)
Antonyms
broom (A simple tool for sweeping, not a powered cleaning machine.)
Themes
home
|technology
|daily life
|daily_life
Definition
A machine that you use to clean, for example to remove dust from the floor or carpet.
A machine or electrical device that is used to clean floors, carpets, or other things.
NOUN
B1
5
tisztító
B1
vegytisztító
B2
Usage pattern:
take [clothes] to the cleaner(s)
I need to pick up my suit from the cleaner before the interview.
Az interjú előtt el kell hoznom az öltönyömet a tisztítóból.
She took her wedding dress to a specialist cleaner after the ceremony.
A szertartás után elvitte a menyasszonyi ruháját egy erre szakosodott tisztítóba.
There's a new cleaner on the corner that offers same-day service.
He forgot to bring the curtains back from the cleaner.
These jackets are dry-clean only, so you'll have to use a professional cleaner.
Learner examples
I took my coat to the cleaner.
Elvittem a kabátomat a tisztítóba.
You can get your dress cleaned at the cleaner near my house.
Kitisztíttathatod a ruhádat a házam közelében lévő tisztítóban.
He will pick up his suit from the cleaner tomorrow.
This shirt is expensive, so I will take it to the cleaner.
The cleaner closed early on Sunday.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse *cleaner* (the shop or person) with *cleaner* meaning a liquid. In *"I took my coat to the cleaner"*, it refers to the shop, not a bottle of liquid.
Meaning
shop that professionally cleans clothes
Collocations
take it to the cleaner's
|pick up from the cleaner
|local cleaner
|dry cleaner
Synonyms
dry cleaner (More specific and more common term; clearly refers to clothes cleaned with special liquid instead of water.)
Antonyms
laundromat (A place where customers wash their own clothes in machines instead of having staff clean them.)
Themes
business
|daily life
|daily_life
|work
Definition
A shop where you take clothes so that a company cleans and presses them for you.
A business or shop where clothes and other items are professionally cleaned, especially by dry-cleaning.
NOUN
C1
SLANG
6
takarító
C1
Usage pattern:
call in a cleaner to [action]
In the movie, the gang hires a cleaner to deal with anyone who talks to the police.
A filmben a banda felbérel egy takarítót, hogy intézze el azokat, akik beszélnek a rendőrséggel.
The organization sent in a cleaner to remove all traces of the operation.
A szervezet beküldött egy takarítót, hogy eltüntesse az akció minden nyomát.
He worked as a so‑called cleaner, making bodies and weapons disappear after a job.
The crime boss trusted only one cleaner to take care of his problems.
Rumors spread that a professional cleaner had been flown in to handle the situation.
Learner examples
In the TV show, the cleaner removes the body after the crime.
A sorozatban a takarító eltünteti a holttestet a bűncselekmény után.
The boss calls a cleaner to make the problem go away.
A főnök takarítót hív, hogy eltüntesse a problémát.
A cleaner in this story is not a normal worker; he is a criminal.
The police think a professional cleaner helped the gang.
In many films, a cleaner comes after the killing.
Common mistake:
Learners might think this always means a normal person who cleans houses or offices. In crime stories, *cleaner* can mean a criminal specialist, which is very different and often violent.
Meaning
criminal who removes evidence or kills
Collocations
professional cleaner
|call in the cleaner
|send a cleaner
|crime-scene cleaner
Synonyms
hitman (Focuses on killing a target for money, not necessarily on cleaning up evidence.)
|
fixer (Broader; someone who solves difficult or illegal problems, not only cleaning crime scenes.)
Antonyms
detective (A person who investigates crimes rather than hiding them.)
Themes
crime
|media
|law
Definition
In crime films or books, a criminal whose job is to kill people or remove a dead body and other signs of a crime.
In crime and spy stories, a person hired by criminals or organizations to kill people or to remove bodies and other evidence so that a crime cannot be discovered.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cleaner
IPA
GB/klˈinɚ/
US/klˈinɚ/
Syllables & stress
clean - er (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (clean)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: cleaner
- Plural: cleaners
Word family
Expressions
dry cleaner
1/dɹˈaɪ klˈinɚ/
fixed phrase
business that dry‑cleans clothes
A shop or business that cleans clothes with a special liquid instead of water, and usually presses them.
Examples
- I have to take this suit to the dry cleaner before the wedding.
- The dry cleaner lost one of my shirts, so they gave me a refund.
- There's a reliable dry cleaner just around the corner from my office.
get a cleaner in
1/ɡˈɛt ə klˈinɚ ˈɪn/
fixed phrase
informal
hire someone to come and clean
To pay a person whose job is cleaning to come to your home or office and clean it.
Examples
- The flat is such a mess that we really should get a cleaner in.
- They decided to get a cleaner in once a week after the baby was born.
- If you're too busy, you can always get a cleaner in to help.
glass cleaner
1/ɡlˈæs klˈinɚ/
fixed phrase
liquid used to clean glass
A liquid that you spray on windows or glass to make them clean and clear.
Examples
- Use glass cleaner and a soft cloth to avoid scratching the window.
- She sprayed some glass cleaner on the mirror and wiped it dry.
- We ran out of glass cleaner, so I used a bit of soapy water instead.
oven cleaner
1/ˈʌvən klˈinɚ/
fixed phrase
strong chemical for cleaning ovens
A strong cleaning product that removes burnt food and grease from the inside of an oven.
Examples
- You should wear gloves when using oven cleaner.
- He sprayed oven cleaner on the trays and left it for an hour.
- This oven cleaner works well on very old grease.
vacuum cleaner
1/vˈækjum klˈinɚ/
fixed phrase
electric machine for vacuuming
An electric machine that cleans floors and other surfaces by sucking up dust and dirt.
Examples
- The vacuum cleaner stopped working in the middle of the job.
- She uses a small vacuum cleaner to clean the stairs.
- They bought a robot vacuum cleaner that runs every night.