klɪə adj., adv., & v. --adj. 1
free from dirt or contamination. 2 (of
weather,
the sky, etc.)
not dull or
cloudy. 3 a
transparent. b lustrous, shining; free from
obscurity. 4 (of soup) not containing
solid ingredients. 5 (of a fire)
burning with little smoke. 6 a
distinct,
easily perceived by the senses. b
unambiguous, easily
understood (make a
thing clear;
make oneself clear). c manifest; not confused or
doubtful (clear evidence). 7
that discerns or is
able to
discern readily and accurately (clear
thinking; clear-sighted). 8 (usu. foll. by
about,
on, or that + clause)
confident, convinced,
certain. 9 (of a conscience) free from
guilt. 10 (of a road etc.)
unobstructed,
open. 11 a
net,
without deduction (a clear ø1000). b
complete (three clear days). 12 (often foll. by of) free,
unhampered;
unencumbered by
debt, commitments, etc. 13 (foll. by of) not obstructed
by. --adv. 1 clearly (speak
loud and clear). 2 completely (he
got clear away). 3
apart,
out of
contact (keep clear;
stand clear of the doors). 4 (foll. by to) US
all the
way. --v. 1 tr. & intr. make or
become clear. 2 a tr. (often foll. by of) free from
prohibition or
obstruction. b tr. & intr. make or become
empty or unobstructed. c tr. free (land)
for cultivation or
building by
cutting down trees etc. d tr.
cause people to leave (a
room etc.). 3 tr. (often foll. by of)
show or
declare (a person) to be
innocent (cleared
them of complicity). 4 tr.
approve (a person) for
special duty,
access to
information, etc. 5 tr. pass
over or by safely or without
touching,
esp. by jumping. 6 tr. make (an
amount of money) as a net
gain or to
balance expenses. 7 tr. pass (a cheque)
through a clearing-house. 8 tr. pass through (a customs
office etc.). 9 tr.
remove (an obstruction, an
unwanted object, etc.) (clear them out of the way). 10 tr. (also absol.)
Football send (the ball) out of one's
defensive zone. 11 intr. (often foll. by
away, up) (of
physical phenomena)
disappear, gradually
diminish (mist cleared by lunchtime; my
cold has cleared up). 12 tr. (often foll. by off)
discharge (a debt). øclear the
air 1 make the air
less sultry. 2
disperse an
atmosphere of
suspicion,
tension, etc. clear away 1 remove completely. 2 remove the
remains of a meal from the
table. clear-cut sharply defined. clear the decks
prepare for
action, esp. fighting. clear
off 1
get rid of. 2 colloq. go away. clear out 1 empty. 2 remove. 3 colloq. go away. clear one's
throat cough slightly to make one's
voice clear. clear up 1
tidy up. 2
solve (a mystery etc.). 3 (of weather) become fine. clear the way 1 remove obstacles. 2 stand
aside. clear a thing with get
approval or authorization for a thing from (a person). in clear not in
cipher or
code. in the clear free from suspicion or
difficulty. out of a clear sky as a complete
surprise. øøclearable adj. clearer n. clearly adv. clearness n. [ME f. OF cler f. L clarus]
