clear-cut
/klɪəˈkʌt
/adjective
1Sharply defined; easy to perceive or understand: we now had a clear-cut objective...
- The technique allowed easy and clear-cut distinction between empty and full vessels.
- This analysis suggests that, from a practical point of view, it is not easy to draw a clear-cut distinction between a collecting bank and a discounting bank.
- It also stresses the need to define clear-cut borders to maintain a democratic society and promote other worthy social goals.
Synonyms
definite, distinct, clear, well defined, sharply defined, precise, specific, explicit, unambiguous, black and white, hard and fast;
unequivocal, straightforward;
striking, obvious;
marked, decided;
sharp, crisp, stark
informal cut and dried
2(Of an area) from which every tree has been cut down and removed: clear-cut forests are unappealing for recreation...
- Instead of the gorgeous scenic vistas of the Cascade Mountains favored by many artists at the time, he painted scarred clear-cut areas, the loggers' aftermath.
- The trees were planted from propagules, in April 1994, in an overexploited clear-cut area.
- This summer, people will be taking steps to prevent the clear-cut areas from being sprayed to kill off hardwood growth.
verb
(also clear-fell) [with object] Cut down and remove every tree from (an area): colonizers clear-cut large jungle tracts...
- Indeed, some of them were whoppers like claiming areas had been clear-felled when they hadn't and putting misleading captions on photographs.
- Our choice was simply between wringing our hands against all logging or offering plantation thinning as a positive alternative to clear-cutting the old stuff.
- It had been clear-felled some eighty years ago which meant that the trees were of a fairly uniform size.