26984 words

clearance

15 definitions • 22 examples
1
the process of removing waste or things you do not want from a place:

Examples:

slum clearance Much of the area was bulldozed into oblivion in a wave of slum clearances.
house clearance UK They specialize in house clearances after a resident has died.
2
an occasion when people are forced to move away from the area where they live permanently:

Examples:

Highland clearances The great Highland clearances in Scotland did not reach their height until after 1800.
3
an occasion when goods are offered for sale cheaply so that people will be encouraged to buy them and there will be space for new goods:

Examples:

clearance sale We bought our new carpet at a clearance sale.
on clearance US I buy Christmas decorations when they go on clearance in January.
4
the distance or space that is needed for one thing to avoid touching another thing:

Examples:

clearance of It was difficult getting the piano through the doorway because we only had a clearance of a few centimetres.
low clearance High vehicles should take an alternative route because of low clearance under the bridge.
5
official permission for something or the state of having satisfied the official conditions of something:

Examples:

The plane will be taking off as soon as it gets clearance.
security clearance To visit the prison, you'll need security clearance.
6
the process of a cheque going from one bank to another through a central organization, so that money can be paid to the person it is owed to:

Examples:

Clearance (of a cheque) can take up to a week.
7
in football, an occasion when a player kicks the ball away from their goal:

Examples:

Robinson's long clearance was controlled by Mido who went on to score.
8
If goods are reduced for clearance, they are offered for sale at a lower than usual price so that people will buy them and there will be space for new goods:

Examples:

a clearance sale
9
official permission for something:

Examples:

The pilot announced we had received clearance for take off.
10
the amount of space available for an object to pass through an opening without touching anything, or for two objects to pass each other without touching:

Examples:

The sign on the overpass says that its clearance is 12 feet, and our truck is 10 feet high, so we should have 2 feet of clearance when we go under it.
11
the process by which cheques and other payments are exchanged between customers of different banks:

Examples:

Foreign-drawn cheques may incur additional bank charges for clearance and currency conversion.
12
official permission to come into or leave a place or country:

Examples:

Two more inspections by the Swiss customs clearance agency declared the cargo clean.
customs/entry clearance His application was refused by the entry clearance officer.
13
official permission to do something or have particular information:

Examples:

security/regulatory clearance Nuclear plant workers and contractors must have a security clearance.
get/be given/obtain clearance The flight was given clearance for takeoff at 5:55 pm.
need/require clearance The deal will need clearance from state insurance departments where the companies do business.
clearance for sth The chief executive said he hoped to receive regulatory clearance for the deal by next March.
14
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15
available at a lower price than usual:

Examples:

All laptops and printers are now on clearance.

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