I. ˈklir adjective
Etymology: Middle English clere, from Anglo-French cler, from Latin clarus clear, bright; akin to Latin calare to call — more at low
Date: 13th century
1.
a. : bright , luminous
b. : cloudless ; specifically : less than one-tenth covered
a clear sky
c. : free from mist, haze, or dust
a clear day
d. : untroubled , serene
a clear gaze
2. : clean , pure : as
a. : free from blemishes
clear skin
b. : easily seen through : transparent
clear glass
c. : free from abnormal sounds on auscultation
3.
a. : easily heard
a loud and clear sound
b. : easily visible : plain
a clear signal
c. : free from obscurity or ambiguity : easily understood : unmistakable
a clear explanation
4.
a. : capable of sharp discernment : keen
a clear thinker
b. : free from doubt : sure
not clear on how to proceed
5. : free from guile or guilt : innocent
a clear conscience
6. : unhampered by restriction or limitation: as
a. : unencumbered by debts or charges
a clear estate
b. : net
a clear profit
c. : unqualified , absolute
a clear victory
d. : free from obstruction
clear passage
e. : emptied of contents or cargo
f. : free from entanglement or contact
staying clear of controversy
keep clear of the boundary
g. : bare , denuded
clear ground
• clear·ness noun
Synonyms:
clear , transparent , translucent , limpid mean capable of being seen through. clear implies absence of cloudiness, haziness, or muddiness
clear water
transparent implies being so clear that objects can be seen distinctly
a transparent sheet of film
translucent implies the passage of light but not a clear view of what lies beyond
translucent frosted glass
limpid suggests the soft clearness of pure water
her eyes were limpid pools of blue
Synonyms:
clear , perspicuous , lucid mean quickly and easily understood. clear implies freedom from obscurity, ambiguity, or undue complexity
clear instructions
perspicuous applies to a style that is simple and elegant as well as clear
a perspicuous style
lucid suggests a clear logical coherence and evident order of arrangement
a lucid explanation
Synonym: see in addition evident .
II. adverb
Date: 14th century
1. : in a clear manner
to cry loud and clear
2. : all the way
drove clear across the state
III. transitive verb
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : to make clear or translucent
b. : to free from pollution or cloudiness
2. : to free from accusation or blame : exonerate , vindicate
the opportunity to clear himself
3.
a. : to give insight to : enlighten
b. : to make intelligible : explain
clear up the mystery
4.
a. : to free from what obstructs or is unneeded: as
(1) : open 1b
clear a path
(2) : to remove unwanted growth or items from
clear the land of timber
(3) : to rid or make a rasping noise as if ridding (the throat) of phlegm
(4) : to erase stored or displayed data from (as a computer or calculator)
b. : to empty of occupants
clear the room
c. : disentangle
clear a fishing line
d. : to remove from an area or place
clear the dishes from the table
e. : transmit , dispatch
5.
a. : to submit for approval
clear it with me first
b. : authorize , approve
clear ed the article for publication
as
(1) : to certify as trustworthy
clear a person for classified information
(2) : to permit (an aircraft) to proceed usually with a specified action
the plane was clear ed to land
6.
a. : to free from obligation or encumbrance
b. : settle , discharge
clear an account
c.
(1) : to free (a ship or shipment) by payment of duties or harbor fees
(2) : to pass through (customs)
d. : to gain without deduction : net
clear a profit
e. : to put through a clearinghouse
7.
a. : to go over, under, or by without touching
the ball just clear ed the uprights
b. : to move through successfully : pass
the bill clear ed the legislature
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to become clear
it clear ed up quickly after the rain
b. : to go away : vanish
the symptoms clear ed gradually
c. : sell
2.
a. : to obtain permission to discharge cargo
b. : to conform to regulations or pay requisite fees prior to leaving port
3. : to pass through a clearinghouse
4. : to go to an authority (as for approval) before becoming effective
• clear·able ˈklir-ə-bəl adjective
• clear·er ˈklir-ər noun
•
- clear the air
- clear the decks
IV. noun
Date: 1674
1. : a clear space or part
2. : a high arcing shot over an opponent's head in badminton
•
- in the clear