free from darkness, obscurity, or cloudiness; light

a clear day.

transparent; pellucid

clear water.

without discoloration, defect, or blemish

a clear complexion; a clear pane of glass.

of a pure, even color

a clear yellow.

easily seen; sharply defined

a clear outline.

distinctly perceptible to the ear; easily heard

a clear sound.

free from hoarse, harsh, or rasping qualities

a clear voice; clear as a bell.

easily understood; without ambiguity

clear, concise answers.

entirely comprehensible; completely understood

The ultimate causes of inflation may never be clear.

distinct; evident; plain

a clear case of misbehavior.

free from confusion, uncertainty, or doubt

clear thinking.

perceiving or discerning distinctly

a clear mind.

convinced; certain

He was not clear on the first point that she made but agreed with the others.

free from anything that would disturb or blame

a clear conscience.

free from suspicion of guilt or complicity

She was entirely clear of the crime until one of her accomplices turned informer.

serene; calm; untroubled

a clear brow.

free from obstructions or obstacles; open

a clear view; a clear path.

free from entanglement or contact

He kept clear of her after the argument. She managed to keep her dress clear of the mud.

without limitation or qualification; absolute

a clear victory.

free from obligation, liability, or debt

After twenty years, our house is clear of the mortgage. Municipal bonds were returning as much as 9 percent, clear of taxes.

without deduction or diminution

a clear

freed or emptied of contents, cargo, etc.

(of tree trunks or timber) free from branches, knots, or other protruding or rough parts

The trunk was clear for 20 feet above the ground.

Phonetics .

(of an l- sound) having front-vowel resonance; situated before a vowel in the same syllable. Compare dark ( def. 16a ) .

(of a speech sound) produced without frication or aspiration.

(in cryptography) not coded or enciphered. Compare plaintext .

bright; shining

a clear flame.

Obsolete . illustrious.

in a clear or distinct manner; clearly.

so as not to be in contact with or near; away (often fol. by of )

Stand clear of the closing doors.

entirely; completely; clean

to cut a piece clear off; to climb clear to the top; to run clear off the road.

to remove people or objects from (usually fol. by of )

to clear a courtroom of photographers; to clear the table of dishes.

to remove (people or objects) (usually fol. by from )

to clear the photographers from the courtroom; to clear the dishes from the table.

to make clear, transparent, or pellucid; free from cloudiness or impurities

to clear a liquid by means of a filter.

to make free of confusion, doubt, or uncertainty

He spoke to his supervisor to clear his mind about their working relationship.

to make understandable or lucid; free from ambiguity or obscurity

She rephrased the report in order to clear the essential points.

to make (a path, road, etc.) by removing any obstruction

He had to cut away the underbrush to clear a path.

to eat all the food on

to clear one's plate.

to relieve (the throat) of some obstruction, as phlegm, by forcing air through the larynx, usually producing a rasping sound.

to make a similar rasping noise in (the throat), as to express disapproval or to attract attention.

to remove from (the brow) any traces of tension or anxiety, as folds or wrinkles.

to free of anything defamatory or discrediting

to clear one's name.

to free from suspicion, accusation, or imputation of guilt; prove or declare innocent

The jury cleared the defendant of the charge.

to remove instructions or data from (a computer, calculator, etc.).

to pass by or over without contact or entanglement

The ship cleared the reef. The fisherman cleared his line.

to pass through or away from

The ship cleared the harbor. The bill cleared the Senate.

to pass (checks or other commercial paper) through a clearinghouse.

(of mail, telephone calls, etc.) to process, handle, reroute, etc.

The dispatcher clears hundreds of items each day.

to free from debt

Just a few dollars more would clear him. The widow had to borrow money to clear her husband's estate.

to gain as clear profit

to clear

to pay (a debt) in full.

to receive authorization before taking action on

You'll have to clear your plan with headquarters.

to give clearance to; authorize

The chairperson has to clear our speeches before the meeting.

to authorize (a person, agency, etc.) to use classified information, documents, etc.

He has finally been cleared for highly classified information.

to remove trees, buildings, or other obstructions from (land), as for farming or construction.

to free (a ship, cargo, etc.) from legal detention at a port by satisfying customs and other requirements.

to try or otherwise dispose of (the cases awaiting court action)

to clear the docket.

(of a commodity) to buy up or sell out the existing supply of.

Skin Diving . to drain or expel unwanted water in

to clear a snorkel by sharp exhalations; to clear a regulator and face mask while underwater.

Bridge . to establish one or more winning cards in (a given suit) by leading the suit until all the outstanding cards have been drawn

He cleared the heart suit before attacking spades.

to become clear.

to exchange checks and bills, and settle balances, as in a clearinghouse.

to become free from doubt, anxiety, misunderstanding, etc.

His mind cleared when he heard the truth.

to pass an authority for review, approval, etc.

The bill must clear through the assembly before it becomes legal.

to remove dishes, food, etc., from a table following a meal

Is it my turn to clear?

to remove previously inserted instructions or data from a computer, calculator, typewriter, or the like.

Nautical .

to comply with customs and other requirements legally imposed on entering or leaving a port (often fol. by in or out ).

to leave port after having complied with such requirements.

(of a commodity for sale) to sell out; become bought out

Wheat cleared rapidly.

a clear or unobstructed space.

plaintext.

a piece of clear lumber. ?

clear away or off,

to remove in order to make room.

to leave; escape

We were warned to clear off before the floods came.

to disappear; vanish

When the smoke cleared away, we saw that the house was in ruins.

clear out,

to remove the contents of

Clear out the closet.

to remove; take away

Clear out your clothes from the closet.

to go away, esp. quickly or abruptly.

to drive or force out

The police cleared out the pickets by force.

clear up,

to make clear; explain; solve.

to put in order; tidy up.

to become better or brighter, as the weather. ?

in the clear

absolved of blame or guilt; free

He was suspected of the theft, but evidence put him in the clear.

en clair.

adjective

cloudy , dark , dim , dull , fuzzy , gloomy , shadowy , unclear , ambiguous , indistinct , mysterious , obscure , unintelligible , vague , blocked , clogged , closed , congested , hindered , clouded , foggy , obscured , smudged , culpable , guilty , responsible , uncertain

verb

clutter , pile up , condemn , find guilty , sentence , hit , run into

adjective

clarion , crystal , fair , fine , halcyon , light , luminous , pleasant , rainless , shining , shiny , sunny , sunshiny , unclouded , undarkened , undimmed , apprehensible , audible , clear-cut , coherent , comprehensible , conspicuous , definite , distinct , evident , explicit , express , graspable , incontrovertible , intelligible , knowable , legible , loud enough , lucent , lucid , manifest , obvious , open and shut , palpable , patent , perceptible , perspicuous , plain , precise , pronounced , readable , recognizable , sharp , simple , spelled out , straightforward , transparent , transpicuous , unambiguous , unblurred , uncomplicated , unequivocal , unmistakable , unquestionable , bare , empty , free , smooth , stark , unhampered , unimpeded , unlimited , unobstructed , vacant , vacuous , void , apparent , cloudless , crystal clear , crystalline , glassy , limpid , pellucid , pure , see-through , thin , tralucent , translucent , translucid , absolved , blameless , clean , cleared , discharged , dismissed , exculpated , exonerated , guiltless , immaculate , innocent , sinless , stainless , unblemished , uncensurable , undefiled , untarnished , untroubled , absolute , confirmed , convinced , decided , positive , resolved , satisfied , sure , flawless , unmarked , open , unblocked , noticeable , observable , visible , broad , categorical , specific

verb

ameliorate , break up , brighten , burn off , clarify , cleanse , disencumber , disengage , disentangle , eliminate , empty , erase , extricate , free , lighten , loosen , lose , meliorate , open , purify , refine , rid , rule out , shake off , sweep , throw off , tidy , unblock , unburden , unclog , unload , unloose , unpack , untie , vacate , void , wipe , absolve , acquit , defog , discharge , disculpate , emancipate , exculpate , exonerate , explain , find innocent , let go , let off , let off the hook , release , relieve , set free , vindicate , hurdle , leap , miss , negotiate , overleap , surmount , vault , accumulate , acquire , clean up * , earn , gain , gather , get , glean , make , net , obtain , pick up , realize , reap , receive , secure , win