clearance

Meanings

Plural: clearances

Noun

• the distance by which one thing clears another; the space between them
• vertical space available to allow easy passage under something
• permission to proceed
  • "the plane was given clearance to land"
• The act of clearing or something (such as a space) cleared.
• The distance between two moving objects, especially between parts of a machine
• 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.
• A permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel.
• A permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information.
• A permission to use something, usually intellectual property, that is legally, but not otherwise, protected.
• 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.
• The settlement of transactions involving securities or means of payment such as checks by means of a clearing house.
• The removal of harmful substances from the blood; renal clearance.
• The act of potting all the remaining balls on a table at one visit.
• The act of kicking a ball away from the goal one is defending.
• Removal of pieces from a rank, file or diagonal so that a bishop, rook or queen is free to move along it.
• Clear or net profit.
• The first disposal in a chain that leaves the area of a stoppage, or a disposal that leaves the area of a stoppage itself.
• The act of leaving the area of a stoppage.

Synonyms

clearing, headroom, headway