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clear Definition

clear (klir)

adjective

  1. free from clouds or mist; bright; light a clear day
  2. free from cloudiness, muddiness, etc.; transparent or pure; not turbid a clear crystal, a clear red
  3. having no blemishes a clear complexion
  4. not faint or blurred; easily seen or heard; sharply defined; distinct a clear outline, clear tones
  5. perceiving acutely; keen or logical a clear eye, a clear mind
  6. serene and calm a clear countenance
  7. free from confusion or ambiguity; not obscure; easily understood the meaning is clear
  8. obvious; unmistakable a clear case of neglect
  9. certain; positive to be clear on a point
  10. free from guilt or a charge of guilt; innocent a clear conscience
  11. free from charges or deductions; net to earn a clear $30,000
  12. free from debt or encumbrance a clear title to the house
  13. free from qualification; absolute; complete a clear victory
  14. free from contact; not entangled, confined, hindered, etc. a style clear of cant
  15. free from impediment or obstruction; open keep the fire lanes clear
  16. freed or emptied of freight or cargo

Etymology: ME cler < OFr < L clarus, orig., clear-sounding, hence clear, bright: for IE base see clamor

adverb

  1. in a clear manner; so as to be clear
  2. all the way; completely it sank clear to the bottom

transitive verb

  1. to make clear or bright
  2. to free from impurities, blemishes, cloudiness, muddiness, etc.
    1. to make intelligible, plain, or lucid; clarify
    2. to decode or decipher
  4. to rid of obstructions, entanglements, or obstacles; open to clear a path through snow
  5. to get rid of; remove
  6. to empty or unload to clear a freighter of cargo
  7. to free (a person or thing) of or from something
  8. to free from a charge or a suspicion of guilt; prove the innocence of; acquit
  9. to pass or leap over, by, etc.
  10. to pass without contact the tug cleared the bridge
  11. to discharge (a debt) by paying it
  12. to give or get clearance for
  13. to be passed or approved by the plan cleared the committee
  14. to go through (a customs office)
  15. to handle and deal with (letters, files, etc.) properly
  16. to make (a given amount) as profit or earnings not subject to charges or deductions; net
  17. to make (the sight) clear or sharp
    1. to rid (the throat) of phlegm by hawking or coughing
    2. to rid (the voice) of hoarseness thus
  19. Banking to pass (a check, draft, etc.) through a clearinghouse

intransitive verb

  1. to become clear, unclouded, etc.
  2. to pass away; vanish
  3. to get clearance, as a ship leaving a port
  4. Banking to be accepted or received through a clearinghouse, as a check, draft, etc.

noun

a clear space

clear Related Forms

clear′·able adjective clear′er noun clear′ly adverb clear′·ness noun

clear Idioms

clear away

  1. to take away so as to leave a cleared space
  2. to go away; go out of sight

clear off

  1. to clear away
  2. to remove something from in order to make clear

clear out

  1. to clear by emptying
  2. ☆ Informal to go away; depart

clear the air

or clear the atmosphere

to get rid of emotional tensions, misunderstandings, etc.

clear up

  1. to make or become clear
  2. to make orderly
  3. to become unclouded, sunny, etc. after being cloudy or stormy
  4. to explain
  5. to cure or become cured this will clear up your cold

in the clear

  1. free from enclosing or limiting obstructions
  2. Informal free from suspicion or guilt

clear Synonyms

clear

modif.

  1. Open to the sight or understanding

    explicit, plain, manifest; see obvious 1, 2.

  2. Offering little impediment to vision

    transparent, crystalline, translucent, lucid, pure, apparent, pellucid, limpid, crystal, thin, crystal clear, unobstructed; see also open 1, 2.

    Antonyms opaque*, dark*, muddy. *

  3. Unclouded

    sunny, cloudless, bright, rainless; see fair 3.

  4. Discernible

    distinct, precise, sharp; see definite 2.

  5. Freed from legal charges

    free, guiltless, cleared, exonerated, blameless, innocent, uncensurable, sinless, exculpated, dismissed, discharged, absolved.

    Antonyms accused, charged*, blamed. *

  6. Audible

    loud enough to be heard, distinct, definite; see audible.

clear suggests freedom from cloudiness, haziness, muddiness, etc., either literally or figuratively a clear liquid, clear logic; transparent suggests such clearness that objects on the other side (or by extension, meanings, etc.) may be seen distinctly plate glass is transparent, a transparent lie; translucent implies the admission of light, but so diffused that objects on the other side cannot be clearly distinguished stained glass is translucent; pellucid suggests the sparkling clearness of crystal a slab of pellucid ice, pellucid writing

in the clear*

guiltless, not suspected, cleared, exonerated; see free 2, innocent 1, pardoned.

clear Synonyms

clear

v.

  1. To free from uncertainty

    clear up, relieve, clarify; see explain.

  2. To free from obstacles

    disentangle, rid, unloose, unblock; see free 2, open 2, remove 1.

  3. To free from contents

    clean, unload, unpack, evacuate; see empty 1, 2, remove 1.

  4. To free from guilt

    acquit, discharge, get off the hook*; see absolve, excuse, free 1, release.

  5. To profit

    realize, net, make; see profit 2, receive 1.

clear Finance Definition

Describes a situation in which a trade has been matched with its appropriate buyer or seller, the payment has been made, and the product has been delivered.

clear Usage Examples

Object

  • debris: If you still cant fit the bolt through try drilling down the holes to clear any debris.
  • ball: Or clear the ball when you are facing in the wrong direction.

Preposition: at

outset: You need to be pretty clear at the outset what it is you are trying to achieve by starting a new group.

Modifies a noun

  • indication: A clear indication also needs to be given about how to bid for additional funds where necessary.
  • understanding: The ones who do have a clear understanding of this are in the minority.
  • sky: The velvety black outline of the mountain erupted with great jets of fire into the clear, indigo sky.
  • distinction: A clear distinction has to be draw between the principle of accession and the rules of removability.
  • evidence: Their cries of rage or fear are clear evidence of the devils fighting the exorcism.
  • picture: Once it collects this digital data the device displays a clear, unchanged video picture for you.

Used with adjective complement

  • become: From the early 19th Century the picture becomes clearer.
  • steer: Check where you should steer clear of - places of political tension for example.
  • seem: It seemed clear that no one in the room had any idea what the teacher might do next.
  • make: They are sorted by relevance, made clear by the number of blue dots on the right.

Followed by a transitive particle

away: Part 2 is in many ways a cleaning-up process, clearing away some plot strands to allow the York rebellion to dominate.

Used with why or when

  • who: Baseline information and key performance indicators should have been provided and it should have been clear who was responsible.
  • what: By this time it had become clear what the problems we were facing.

Particle object:

  • mess: Once again the state is only utilizing the means we provide to clear up that mess.
  • misunderstanding: I'm reposting it here as I think it helps to clear up some common misunderstandings about the project.
  • misconception: Firstly let's clear up a misconception about heaven.

Preposition: of

litter: Please keep the Recycling Points clear of litter by taking your bags and cardboard boxes home with you.