dry-cleanv.
/ˌdrʌɪˈkliːn/, U.S. /ˈdraɪˌklin/ 1. transitive. Originally: to clean (esp. clothes or fabric) without immersion or soaking in water. In later use usually: spec. to clean (clothes, fabric, etc.) using a chemical (typically organic or organochlorine) solvent rather than water.
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the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > cleaning of clothes > clean clothes [verb (transitive)]
dry-clean1781
1781 Morning Chron. 21 Aug. (advt.) The Royal Moude worsted pieces..to be had every week from the manufactory..where gentlemens' [sic] cloaths are dry-cleaned, without shrinking, or being made rough.
1817 W. Tucker Family Dyer & Scourer i. 20 (heading) For dry cleaning Clothes of any Colour.
1912 Times of India 19 Oct. 4/6 (advt.) Why worry yourself about glazing your shirts and collars and Dry cleaning your valuable suits, and ladies' woollen dresses.
1960 R. Casanova Fossil Collecting (1970) v. 105 Some fossils, especially those in shale, will crumble if placed in water, and these should be carefully ‘dry-cleaned’ with a brush or instrument.
2004 Sci. Amer. (U.K. ed.) Apr. 54/2 Supercritical carbon dioxide has recently become a popular means to dry-clean clothes.
2. intransitive. To admit of being dry-cleaned.
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1889 Ladies' Home Jrnl. July 13/1 The part cotton and all wool challies are washed according to the directions given for India silks, but the former variety shrinks amazingly, though it dry cleans without any change.
1970 ‘D. Halliday’ Dolly & Cookie Bird viii. 111 Blood was spreading over..his cream jersey suit. It would never dry-clean.
2011 ‘C. Jordan’ Measure of Darkness vi. 52 He has changed into an off-the-rack JoS. A. Bank blue blazer, one that dry-cleans easily.
Derivatives
ˌdry-ˈcleanable adj.
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1906 Atlanta (Georgia) Constit. 9 Dec. 5 (advt.) White and fancy Vests here in a great variety of washable and ‘dry-cleanable’ fabrics, very handsome styles.
1994–5 Do It Yourself Winter 34/3 For this easy-going look, she slipcovered the sofa in dry-cleanable off-white cotton.
ˌdry-ˈcleaned adj.
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1900 World (N.Y.) 4 Apr. 11/8 (advt.) Pressers, experienced on ladies' dry cleaned garments; steady work.
1906 W. A. White In Our Town iii. 35 She detected the woman who was wearing the dry-cleaned cast-off clothing of her sister in the city.
1992 New Republic 5 Oct. 29/2 Participants were sent advance notice not to bring perfumes, dry-cleaned clothing, hair spray, or other dangerous irritants to the conference out of concern for allergic sisters.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2021).
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