Word: clearance Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree English clear Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -iader. Old French -ancebor. Middle English -aunce English -ance English clearance From clear + -ance. Pronunciation: /ˈklɪə̯.ɹəns/, [ˈkʰlɪə̯.ɹəns] ~ [ˈkʰlɪə̯.ɹn̩s], /ˈklɪɚ.əns/, [ˈkʰlɪɚ.əns] ~ [ˈkʰlɪɹ̩.n̩s] 1. The act of clearing or something (such as a space) cleared. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: In conclusion, it must be reiterated that effective snow clearance is largely a matter of forward planning and departmental co-operation. 2. The distance between two moving objects, especially between parts of a machine Labels: countable, uncountable 3. The height or width of a tunnel, bridge or other passage, or the distance between a vehicle and the walls or roof of such passage; a gap, headroom. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Clearance on these freeway overpasses is limited, so big trucks must detour. Example: When the scheme is completed, the 99-year-old swing bridge over the canal will be dispensed with as the new bridge will have sufficient height to allow clearance for the passage of canal traffic. 4. A permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The plane got clearance from air traffic control, and we were off. Example: He got clearance to travel to America, even though he had previous links to terrorists. 5. A permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: In a thread called “Calm Before the Storm”, and in subsequent posts, Q established his legend as a government insider with top security clearance who knew the truth about a secret struggle for power involving Donald Trump, the “deep state”, Robert Mueller, the Clintons, pedophile rings, and other stuff. 6. A permission to use something, usually intellectual property, that is legally, but not otherwise, protected. Labels: countable, uncountable 7. A sale of merchandise, especially at significantly reduced prices, usually in order to make room for new merchandise or updated versions of the same merchandise; sometimes as a closeout. Labels: countable, uncountable 8. The settlement of transactions involving securities or means of payment such as checks by means of a clearing house. Labels: countable, uncountable 9. The removal of harmful substances from the blood; renal clearance. Labels: countable, uncountable 10. The act of potting all the remaining balls on a table at one visit. Labels: countable, uncountable 11. The act of kicking a ball away from the goal one is defending. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Bolton were then just inches from taking the lead, but the dangerous-looking Taylor drilled just wide after picking up a loose ball following Jose Bosingwa's poor attempted clearance. 12. Removal of pieces from a rank, file or diagonal so that a bishop, rook or queen is free to move along it. Labels: countable, uncountable 13. Clear or net profit. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: There can, I believe, be no doubt of this, that sugar can be made better and cheaper in large quantities than in small. But the clearance, sir; that is the question. How would this affect the clearance? The sugar manufacturer would want his profit. 14. The first disposal in a chain that leaves the area of a stoppage, or a disposal that leaves the area of a stoppage itself. Labels: countable, uncountable 15. The act of leaving the area of a stoppage. Labels: countable, uncountable