cleaner

plural cleaners

1. A person whose occupation is to clean things, especially rooms, floors, and windows.

   The cleaner worked, of course, at nights. He had to coal and light up the engine, as well as clean it, for the next day's work, which commenced with a light run to Barnham to "bring in the goods" from that station at about 6.30 a.m.

   1952 February, J. Pelham Maitland, “Locomotive Working on Sussex Branches Fifty Years Ago”, in Railway Magazine, page 84

2. A device that cleans, such as the vacuum cleaner.
3. A substance used for cleaning; especially, one retailed for that purpose and meant for use on things other than one's own body.

   Near-synonym: cleaning fluid

   Synonyms: cleaning agent, cleaning fluid

4. in pluralA professional laundry or dry cleaner (business).

   I'll have to take this shirt to the cleaners.

5. idiomaticinformalA fixer; a person who disposes of bodies and evidence.

1. comparativeComparative form of clean: more clean.

   Diesel No. C222 was shunting near the shed, as was a 4-4-0 with a very large-looking boiler, No. 306, which was much the cleaner of the two.

   1959 May 28, R. A. Young, “A Railway Holiday in Ireland—1”, in Railway Magazine, page 346