# cleaning

Pronunciation: US say "KLEE-ning" /ˈklinɪŋ/; UK

## Noun

1. The process of removing dirt, dust, or stains so that something becomes clean.
   - Simple: The work of removing dirt so that something becomes neat and clean.
   - _A thorough cleaning of the kitchen revealed years of grease behind the stove._
   - _Regular cleaning keeps the machinery running smoothly throughout the season._
3. The afterbirth: the placenta and membranes expelled by a cow, ewe, or similar animal after giving birth.
   - Simple: The bag of tissue that comes out of a cow or sheep after it gives birth.
   - _After the ewe lambed, the shepherd waited for the cleaning to be expelled._
   - _A cow that retains its cleaning for too long may develop an infection._

## Verb

2. Present participle of clean. — present participle and gerund of clean
   - Simple: Present participle of clean. Use this -ing form when the action is happening right now.
   - _He is cleaning the windows while the weather holds._
   - _The volunteers are cleaning the beach this weekend._

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/cleaning (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).