Clearance is the removal of old buildings, trees, or other things that are not wanted from an area.
...a slum clearance operation in Nairobi.
The U.N. pledged to help supervise the clearance of mines. [+ of]
...widespread clearance of jungle land.
2. variable noun
If you get clearanceto do or have something, you get official approval or permission to do or have it.
Thai Airways said the plane had been given clearance to land. [+ to]
He has a security clearance that allows him access to classified information.
Synonyms: permission, consent, endorsement, green light More Synonyms of clearance
3. variable noun
The clearance of a bridge is the distance between the lowest point of the bridge and the road or the water under the bridge.
The lowest fixed bridge has 12.8m clearance.
Synonyms: space, gap, margin, allowance More Synonyms of clearance
More Synonyms of clearance
clearance in British English
(ˈklɪərəns)
noun
1.
a.
the process or an instance of clearing
slum clearance
b.
(as modifier)
a clearance order
2.
space between two parts in motion or in relative motion
3.
permission for an aircraft, ship, passengers, etc, to proceed
4.
official permission to have access to secret information, projects, areas, etc
5. banking
the exchange of commercial documents drawn on the members of a clearing house
6.
a.
the disposal of merchandise at reduced prices
b.
(as modifier)
a clearance sale
7. sport
a.
the act of hitting or kicking a ball out of the defensive area, as in football
b.
an instance of this
8.
the act of clearing an area of land of its inhabitants by mass eviction
Highland Clearances
9. dentistry
the extraction of all of a person's teeth
10. a less common word for clearing
clearance in American English
(ˈklɪrəns)
noun
1.
an act or instance of clearing
2.
the clear space or distance between moving objects or mechanical parts, or between a moving object and that which it passes through, over, under,etc.
3.
official, esp. governmental, authorization allowing a person to examine classified documents, participate in confidential projects, etc.
4.
a.
a certificate from the collector of customs authorizing a ship to enter or leave port
: also clearance papers
b.
the act or process of meeting the requirements for getting this certificate
5. Aeronautics
permission, usually from a control tower, to take off, land, etc.
6. Banking
the adjustment of debits and credits, exchange of checks, etc. in a clearinghouse
clearance in Retail
(klɪərəns)
Word forms: (regular plural) clearances
noun
(Retail: Merchandising)
Clearance is the selling of merchandise, at greatly reduced prices, often to make way for newstock.
The retailer was closing its stores and so was holding a clearance sale.
The store had a clearance sale to reduce its inventory of slow-moving stock.
Clearance is the selling of merchandise, at greatly reduced prices, often to make way for newstock.
Examples of 'clearance' in a sentence
clearance
If you're doing a house clearance, you can find out what items are worth before deciding where to sell them.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The legacy of industrial decline and extensive clearance was large areas of derelict and vacant land.
Brindley,Tim & Rydin, Yvonne & Stoker, Gerry Remaking Planning: the politics of urban change in the Thatcher years (1989)
The explosives had been found by a removal company during a house clearance.
The Sun (2009)
The forward scored twice and also made two goalline clearances.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They live on grazing animals such as deer which are declining in number due to land clearance.
The Sun (2007)
Six hundred workers are already involved in clearance operations at the site.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was sold on in a house clearance.
The Sun (2010)
Brilliant goalline clearance and then two goals.
The Sun (2013)
Both pilots were in touch with air traffic controllers and had clearance to land.
The Sun (2008)
It sounds as though there will be a house clearance when they move.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The backlog in the clearance process could leave many businesses with an unexpected tax bill running into millions of pounds.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It can be processed through bank clearance systems and should therefore be an acceptable form of payment to almost any retailer.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It was deemed too cold to fly, and he could not get flight clearance.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They make good clearances from their defensive third and they're fast.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He obviously didn't get security clearance.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
During the certification process, these clearances will expire.
Christianity Today (2000)
Two diverted airliners were given special clearance to land at Manchester.
The Sun (2010)
One medal was found in a Bristol house clearance.
The Sun (2013)
I needed to get a higher clearance and had one go left.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
ONE or two rash clearances but this is one area which has improved as his confidence has grown.
The Sun (2012)
His two last-ditch clearances were vital.
The Sun (2007)
Decent weather in July and August should have helped clearance of spring and summer stock.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He oversaw security clearance for Estonian officials in the intelligence, military and security agencies.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Policies for the Budget do not go through the normal Cabinet clearance process.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Premier expects the sale of the canned business to be completed in March after European regulatory clearance and approval from shareholders and its banks.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
clearance
British English: clearance NOUN
Clearance is the removal of old buildings, trees, or other things that are not wanted from an area.
...a slum clearance operation.
American English: clearance
Brazilian Portuguese: remoção
Chinese: 拆除
European Spanish: despeje
French: déblaiement
German: Räumung
Italian: sgombro
Japanese: 除去
Korean: 제거
European Portuguese: remoção
Latin American Spanish: despeje
All related terms of 'clearance'
clearance sale
A clearance sale is a sale in which the goods in a shop are sold at reduced prices, because the shopkeeper wants to get rid of them quickly or because the shop is closing down.
slum clearance
the removal for rehousing , by the state, of those people who previously lived in slum areas, to prepare the area for demolition and rebuilding
clearance volume
The clearance volume is the volume remaining above the piston of an engine when it reaches top dead center .
customs clearance
the permission to take goods into or out of a country once customs requirements have been satisfied
security clearance
the status gained by passing a security check , and thus being allowed access to classified information
clearance certificate
permission for a ship to use, leave, or enter a port
slum clearance area
an area that has been designated for, or been subject to, the rehousing of its inhabitants and subsequent demolition and rebuilding
slum clearance campaign
a campaign to rehouse those people who live in a slum area, and to prepare the area for demolition and rebuilding
runout
the dismissal of a batsman by running him or her out
1 (noun)
Definition
the act of clearing
By the late fifties, slum clearance was the watchword in town planning.
Synonyms
evacuation
an evacuation of the city's four million inhabitants
emptying
withdrawal
the withdrawal of troops from Eastern Europe
removal
the removal of limits on foreign ownership
eviction
He was facing eviction for non-payment of rent.
depopulation
unpeopling
2 (noun)
Definition
official permission to have access to secret information or areas
He has a security clearance that allows him access to classified information.
Synonyms
permission
They cannot leave the country without permission.
Women and children have been given permission to leave.
consent
We need her consent before we submit the application.
endorsement
This is a powerful endorsement of his style of governing.
green light
The project was given the green light in the Chancellor's autumn budget.
authorization
a request for authorization to use military force
blank cheque
go-ahead (informal)
Don't do any major repair work until you get the go-ahead from your insurers.
leave
an application for leave to appeal against the judge's order
sanction
The king could not enact laws without the sanction of parliament.
O.K. or okay (informal)
3 (noun)
Definition
space between two parts in motion
The lowest fixed bridge has 12.8m clearance.
Synonyms
space
The space underneath could be used as a storage area.
gap
the wind tearing through gaps in the window frames
margin
There is very little margin for error in the way the money is collected.
allowance
headroom
Additional synonyms
in the sense of authorization
a request for authorization to use military force
Synonyms
permission,
right,
leave,
power,
authority,
ability,
strength,
permit,
sanction,
licence,
approval,
warrant,
say-so (informal),
credentials,
a blank cheque
in the sense of consent
Definition
agreement, permission, or approval
We need her consent before we submit the application.
Synonyms
agreement,
sanction,
approval,
go-ahead (informal),
permission,
compliance,
green light,
assent,
acquiescence,
concurrence,
O.K. or okay (informal)
in the sense of endorsement
This is a powerful endorsement of his style of governing.