different between simple vs clean

English

Etymology

From Middle English symple, simple, from Old French and French simple, from Latin simplex (“simple”, literally “onefold”) (as opposed to duplex (“double”, literally “twofold”)), from semel (“the same”) + plic? (“I fold”). See same and fold. Compare single, singular, simultaneous, etc.

Partially displaced native English onefold.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?s?mp?l/
• Rhymes: -?mp?l
• Hyphenation: sim?ple

Adjective

simple (comparative simpler or more simple, superlative simplest or most simple)

1. Uncomplicated; taken by itself, with nothing added.
   • 2001, Sydney I. Landau, Dictionaries: The Art and Craft of Lexicography, Cambridge University Press ?ISBN, page 167,

     There is no simple way to define precisely a complex arrangement of parts, however homely the object may appear to be.

2. Without ornamentation; plain.
3. Free from duplicity; guileless, innocent, straightforward.
   • 1605, John Marston, The Dutch Courtesan

     Full many fine men go upon my score, as simple as I stand here, and I trust them.

   • 1838, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Literary Ethics - an Oration delivered before the Literary Societies of Dartmouth College, July 24, 1838

     To be simple is to be great.

4. Undistinguished in social condition; of no special rank.

   Antonym: gentle

5. (now rare) Trivial; insignificant.
   • 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X:

     ‘That was a symple cause,’ seyde Sir Trystram, ‘for to sle a good knyght for seyynge well by his maystir.’

6. (now colloquial) Feeble-minded; foolish.
7. (heading, technical) Structurally uncomplicated.
   1. (chemistry, pharmacology) Consisting of one single substance; uncompounded.
   2. (mathematics) Of a group: having no normal subgroup.
   3. (botany) Not compound, but possibly lobed.
   4. (of a steam engine) Using steam only once in its cylinders, in contrast to a compound engine, where steam is used more than once in high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders.
      • 1959, Steam's Finest Hour, edited by David P. Morgan, Kalmbach Publishing Co., page 6:

   5. (zoology) Consisting of a single individual or zooid; not compound.

   6. (mineralogy) Homogenous.
8. (obsolete) Mere; not other than; being only.

Synonyms

• (consisting of a single part or aspect): onefold
• (having few parts or features): plain
• See also Thesaurus:easy and Thesaurus:bare-bones

Antonyms

• (having few parts or features): complex, compound, complicated
• (uncomplicated): subtle

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

simple (plural simples)

1. (pharmacology) A herbal preparation made from one plant, as opposed to something made from more than one plant.
   • 2003, Dolores Stewart Riccio, Charmed Circle, Kensington Books (?ISBN), page 12:

     The venerable carryall, formerly brimming with all manner of esoteric pamphlets and witch's simples, now overflowed with a cascade of soft toys, juice bottles, tissues, linen books for infants, […]

2. (obsolete, by extension) A physician.
3. (logic) A simple or atomic proposition.
4. (obsolete) Something not mixed or compounded.
5. (weaving) A drawloom.
6. (weaving) Part of the apparatus for raising the heddles of a drawloom.
7. (Roman Catholicism) A feast which is not a double or a semidouble.

Translations

Verb

simple (third-person singular simple present simples, present participle simpling, simple past and past participle simpled)

1. (transitive, intransitive, archaic) To gather simples, i.e. medicinal herbs.

Derived terms

• simpler
• simplist
• simplify

Anagrams

• LEMSIP, impels

Asturian

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin simplex.

Adjective

simple (epicene, plural simples)

1. simple (uncomplicated)

Synonyms

• cenciellu

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin simplex.

Pronunciation

• (Balearic, Central) IPA^(key): /?sim.pl?/
• (Valencian) IPA^(key): /?sim.ple/

Adjective

simple (masculine and feminine plural simples)

1. simple (uncomplicated)

   Synonym: senzill

2. single (not divided into parts)

Derived terms

• fulla simple (“simple leaf”)
• simplement (“simply”)

Related terms

• símplex (“simplex”)
• simplicitat (“simplicity”)
• ximple

Further reading

• “simple” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
• “simple” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.
• “simple” in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana.

Chavacano

Etymology

From Spanish simple (“simple”).

Adjective

simple

1. simple

Esperanto

Etymology

From simpla +? -e.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?simple/
• Hyphenation: sim?ple

Adverb

simple

1. simply

French

Etymology

From Old French, borrowed from Latin simplex.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /s??pl/

Adjective

simple (plural simples)

1. single (multiplier)

2. simple

3. one-way

4. mere

Usage notes

The second and third meanings are taken when the adjective is placed after the noun. The fourth meaning is taken when it is located before the noun.

Derived terms

Descendants

• ? Romanian: simplu

Noun

simple m (plural simples)

1. one-way ticket
2. (baseball) single

Related terms

Further reading

• “simple” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Anagrams

• emplis

Galician

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin simplex. Displaced Old Portuguese simplez.

Adjective

simple m or f (plural simples)

1. simple

German

Adjective

simple

1. inflection of simpel:
   1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
   2. strong nominative/accusative plural
   3. weak nominative all-gender singular
   4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

Latin

Adjective

simple

1. vocative masculine singular of simplus

Middle English

Adjective

simple

1. Alternative form of symple

Noun

simple

1. Alternative form of symple

Norwegian Bokmål

Adjective

simple

1. definite singular of simpel
2. plural of simpel

Norwegian Nynorsk

Adjective

simple

1. definite singular of simpel
2. plural of simpel

Old French

Alternative forms

• sinple

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin simplex.

Adjective

simple m (oblique and nominative feminine singular simple)

1. innocent
2. mere; simple
3. honest; without pretense
4. peasant, pauper (attributive)

Descendants

• French: simple
  • ? Romanian: simplu
• ? Middle English: symple, simple
  • Scots: semple
  • English: simple

Romanian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [?sim.ple]

Adjective

simple

1. feminine/neuter plural nominative/accusative of simplu

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin simplex.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?simple/, [?s?m.ple]

Adjective

simple (plural simples)

1. simple (uncomplicated)

   Synonym: sencillo

   Antonym: complejo

2. (before the noun) mere, ordinary

   Synonym: mero

3. simple, single (not divided into parts)

   Antonym: compuesto

4. simple-minded, stupid
5. insipid, flavorless

   Synonym: soso

6. (grammar) simple

Usage notes

A way to think of the difference between simple and sencillo, which both mean "simple" in English, is that the antonym of simple is complejo (“complex”), whereas the antonym of sencillo is complicado (“complicated”).

Derived terms

Descendants

• Chavacano: simple

Noun

simple m or f (plural simples)

1. simpleton, fool
2. (pharmacology, masculine only) simple

See also

• más simple que el mecanismo de un botijo

Further reading

• “simple” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.

Swedish

Adjective

simple

1. absolute definite natural masculine form of simpel.

Anagrams

• simpel

Tagalog

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish simple.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?simpl?/

Adjective

símple

1. simple; plain

   Synonyms: payak, yano, liso

English

Etymology

From Middle English clene, clane, from Old English cl?ne (“clean, pure”), from Proto-Germanic *klainiz (“shining, fine, splendid, tender”), from Proto-Indo-European *gl?y- (“gleaming”), from Proto-Indo-European *gel- (“to gleam”). Cognate with Scots clean (“absolute, pure, clear, empty”) and clene, clane (“clean”), North Frisian klien (“small”), Dutch klein (“small”), Low German kleen (“small”), German klein (“small”), Swedish klen (“weak, feeble, delicate”), Icelandic klénn (“poor, feeble, petty, snug, puny, cheesy, lame”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /kli?n/, [k?l?i?n]
• (General American) enPR: kl?n, IPA^(key): /klin/, [k?l??n]
• ((Ireland), dated), enPR: kl?n, IPA^(key): /kle?n/, [k?l?e?n]
• Rhymes: -i?n

Adjective

clean (comparative cleaner, superlative cleanest)

1. (heading, physical) Free of dirt or impurities or protruberances.
   1. Not dirty.

      • Then his sallow face brightened, for the hall had been carefully furnished, and was very clean. ¶ There was a neat hat-and-umbrella stand, and the stranger's weary feet fell soft on a good, serviceable dark-red drugget, which matched in colour the flock-paper on the walls.

   2. In an unmarked condition.

   3. (aerodynamics) Allowing an uninterrupted flow over surfaces, without protrusions such as racks or landing gear.
   4. Empty.

   5. (of metal) Having relatively few impurities.

2. (heading, behavioural) Free of immorality or criminality.
   1. Pure, especially morally or religiously.
      • ?, Alfred Tennyson, St. Simeon Stylites

        That I am whole, and clean, and meet for Heaven.

      • 1914, New Zealand Parliamentary Debates (volume 168, page 195)

        I do not think there is any member in this House who will not agree that that is the clean thing to do. Any member sitting on the Government benches will admit in private that that is the proper course for members who break faith.

   2. Not having used drugs or alcohol.

   3. (of criminal, driving, etc. records) Without restrictions or penalties, or someone having such a record.

   4. (informal) Not in possession of weapons or contraband such as drugs.

   5. (informal) Devoid of profanity.
3. smooth, exact, and performed well

4. (obsolete) Total; utter. (still in "clean sweep")
   • a. 1655, James Howell, "To the Right Honourable the Earl of Clare" in Epistolæ Ho-Elianæ

     Moreover, I find there are some Words now in French which are turned to a Countersense […] Cocu is taken for one whose Wife is light, and hath made him a passive Cuckold; whereas clean contrary, Cocu, which is the Cuckow, doth use to lay her Eggs in another Bird's Nest.

5. (informal) Cool or neat.

6. (health) Being free of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

7. That does not damage the environment.

8. Free from that which is useless or injurious; without defects.

9. Free from restraint or neglect; complete; entire.

   • When ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of corners of thy field.

10. Well-proportioned; shapely.

11. (climbing, of a route) Ascended without falling.

Synonyms

• (not dirty): Thesaurus:clean

Antonyms

• dirty
• unclean

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

clean (plural cleans)

1. Removal of dirt.

2. (weightlifting) The first part of the event clean and jerk in which the weight is brought from the ground to the shoulders.

Derived terms

• power clean

Translations

Verb

clean (third-person singular simple present cleans, present participle cleaning, simple past and past participle cleaned)

1. (transitive) To remove dirt from a place or object.

2. (transitive) To tidy up, make a place neat.

3. (transitive, climbing) To remove equipment from a climbing route after it was previously lead climbed.
4. (intransitive) To make things clean in general.

5. (transitive, computing) To remove unnecessary files, etc. from (a directory, etc.).
6. (intransitive, curling) To brush the ice lightly in front of a moving rock to remove any debris and ensure a correct line; less vigorous than a sweep.
7. (manga fandom slang) To purge a raw of any blemishes caused by the scanning process such as brown tinting and poor color contrast.
8. To remove guts and/or scales of a butchered animal.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:make clean

Derived terms

Translations

Adverb

clean (comparative cleaner, superlative cleanest)

1. Fully and completely.

Translations

Anagrams

• Calne, Lance, Lenca, ancle, clane, lance

Danish

Etymology

Borrowed from English clean.

Adjective

clean (neuter clean, plural and definite singular attributive clean)

1. drugfree, not having used recreational drugs

German

Etymology

From English clean. Doublet of klein.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [kli?n]

Adjective

clean (comparative cleaner, superlative am cleansten)

1. (colloquial) clean, drugfree

Declension

Further reading

• “clean” in Duden online

Manx

Etymology

From Old Irish clíabán.

Noun

clean m (genitive singular clean, plural cleanyn)

1. cradle (oscillating bed for a baby)

2. cot
3. cage (of birds)
4. pannier

Mutation

Romanian

Etymology

From Bulgarian ????? (kljan), from Proto-Slavic *klen?.

Noun

clean m (plural cleni)

1. chub (Squalius cephalus)

Declension