clearance
/ˈklɪərəns/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈklɪrəns/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈklir-ən(t)s/ (ame, mw)
clearance — noun
- clearancesingular
- clearancesplural
1. When unwanted items, litter, or dangerous substances are cleared out of an area,
When unwanted items, litter, or dangerous substances are cleared out of an area, this process is called clearance.
The hospital hired a team for the clearance of hazardous chemical waste.
collocation: clearance of [waste/debris]
After the renovation, the clearance of old furniture took two full days.
City workers began the clearance of fallen branches from the main roads after the storm.
The factory was fined for not arranging proper waste clearance on its site.
文法句型
clearance + of + noun
用法筆記
Frequently uncountable. Often used with a following 'of'-phrase specifying what is removed.
常見錯誤
2. The act of forcing people to leave their homes or land permanently, often for de
The act of forcing people to leave their homes or land permanently, often for development or political reasons.
The government ordered the clearance of the informal settlement near the riverbank.
formal register: clearance of [community]
Over two thousand families faced clearance when the mining company expanded its operations.
The court ruled against the forced clearance of the farming community without proper notice.
International aid groups condemned the clearance of the village with no housing plan in place.
- eviction
more common in legal contexts; 'clearance' often refers to larger-scale operations
- displacement
broader term covering any forced movement, not just from homes
文法句型
clearance + of + people
用法筆記
Formal register, typically found in news reporting about land disputes or urban redevelopment. Distinguished from sense 1 (WASTE REMOVAL) by involving people rather than objects.
3. An event where a store sells goods at reduced prices to make room for new stock.
An event where a store sells goods at reduced prices to make room for new stock.
The shop is having a clearance on winter coats to make space for spring clothes.
collocation: have a clearance on [goods]
Beatriz found a sofa at a huge discount during the furniture store's clearance.
The clearance section at the back of the supermarket sells items near their expiry date.
Shoppers lined up early for the annual clearance at the department store downtown.
文法句型
clearance + sale
on clearance
用法筆記
Uncountable in standard use ('on clearance'). Often appears in compound nouns such as 'clearance sale' or 'clearance section'. More informal than 'discount event'.
4. The minimum distance that must exist between two items to prevent them from hitt
The minimum distance that must exist between two items to prevent them from hitting each other, especially in engineering or construction.
The bridge has a clearance of only four metres, so large trucks cannot pass underneath.
collocation: [structure] has a clearance of [height]
The mechanic checked the clearance between the brake pads and the wheel disc.
When parking in the garage, make sure there is enough clearance above the car roof.
The shelf was installed with too little clearance, so the books would not fit upright.
文法句型
clearance + between
clearance + of
用法筆記
Countable when a specific measurement is stated ('a clearance of 10 cm'); uncountable when referring to the concept generally ('not enough clearance').
5. Official approval given by an authority that allows a person to do something, en
Official approval given by an authority that allows a person to do something, enter a place, access information, or proceed with a plan.
Nikolai needed security clearance before he could start working at the embassy.
collocation: security clearance
The plane received clearance to take off after a short delay due to fog.
pattern: received clearance to [verb]
Doctors must obtain ethical clearance before beginning medical trials on new treatments.
The contractor applied for planning clearance to build a new apartment block on the site.
- authorization
more formal, often written; 'clearance' suggests a background check aspect
- approval
broader; 'clearance' implies meeting specific conditions or passing a vetting process
- permission
more general; 'clearance' typically comes from an official process
文法句型
clearance + to-infinitive
clearance + for
用法筆記
Uncountable. Often followed by a 'to'-infinitive ('clearance to proceed') or 'for' + noun ('clearance for takeoff'). Subject is typically an official body such as a government agency, airport, or ethics committee.
常見錯誤
6. The process by which a cheque passes through the banking system so that the mone
The process by which a cheque passes through the banking system so that the money moves from one account to another and becomes available to the person who received it.
The bank told Hana that cheque clearance would take three working days.
collocation: cheque clearance
Electronic payments are processed much faster than the traditional cheque clearance system.
Cheque clearance times have improved since the banks adopted digital processing methods.
The accountant waited for full cheque clearance before releasing the project funds.
文法句型
cheque clearance
用法筆記
Uncountable in standard use. 'Cheque' is the British spelling; American English uses 'check clearance'. This sense is less common in daily conversation due to the rise of electronic banking.
7. In football (soccer), a defensive move in which a player strikes the ball far fr
In football (soccer), a defensive move in which a player strikes the ball far from the goalmouth to stop the opposition from scoring.
The defender made a crucial clearance off the goal line in the final minute.
pattern: make a clearance
Tomás sent a powerful clearance into the opposite half of the field.
The goalkeeper rushed out to make a clearance before the striker could reach the ball.
A poor clearance by the centre-back gave the opposing team a clear scoring chance.
文法句型
make a clearance
用法筆記
Countable — each kicking action is 'a clearance'. Common in football commentary and match reports. Not used for other sports such as rugby or basketball.