clearing

American  

[kleer-ing] / ˈklɪər ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that clears; the process of becoming clear.

2. a tract of land, as in a forest, that contains no trees or bushes.

3. the reciprocal exchange between banks of checks and drafts, and the settlement of the differences.

4. clearings, the total of claims settled at a clearinghouse.

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clearing British  

/ ˈklɪərɪŋ /

noun

1. an area with few or no trees or shrubs in wooded or overgrown land

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Other Word Forms

• unclearing adjective

Etymology

Origin of clearing

First recorded in 1350–1400, clearing is from the Middle English word clering. See clear, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

There were some funny folks who got up onstage, but Cash shouted out to them, “You don’t need to be funny! This is just clearing!”

From Salon

The authorities had not yet begun clearing roads, residents said, and no outside assistance had arrived.

From BBC

On either side, men bent at the waist, clearing fruit with one quick sweep of the knife and moving on to the next.

From Los Angeles Times

Authorities had not yet begun clearing roads, residents told AFP, and no outside assistance had arrived.

From Barron's

The reforms, approved by parliament late Thursday night, will create an independent environmental regulator and stricter rules for land clearing -- a leading cause of native animal extinctions.

From Barron's

Related Words

• clearance
• expanse