cleanup
UK: ˈkliːnʌp | US: ˈkliːnˌʌp
n. the act of cleaning or tidying a place
n. the process of resolving problems or removing unwanted elements
n. (finance) the liquidation of assets or settlement of accounts
The word "cleanup" combines "clean," derived from Old English clǣne (pure, free from dirt), and "up," from Old English ūp (indicating completion or direction). The compound emerged in the 19th century, originally describing physical tidying. Over time, it expanded metaphorically to include problem-solving (e.g., "crime cleanup") and financial contexts (e.g., "debt cleanup"). The morphemes retain their original meanings while collectively conveying thorough restoration.
Volunteers organized a beach cleanup to remove plastic waste.
The new manager led a company-wide cleanup of outdated policies.
After the party, the cleanup took hours.
The software update included a cleanup of redundant files.
The city launched a cleanup campaign to improve public spaces.