clearing bank

A bank which is a member of the London Clearing House

joint-stock bank

One whose capital is subscribed by a large number of shareholders

laugh (or cry) all the way to the bank

To be delighted (or (ironic) sorry) to be making a lot of money, esp undeservedly or as a result of sharp practice

merchant bank

One whose functions include financing transit of goods and providing financial and commercial advice

private bank

One carried on by fewer than ten persons

clear /klēr/

adjective

1. Pure, bright, undimmed, unclouded, undulled
2. Free from obstruction, difficulty, complication, contents, blame or accusation
3. Disengaged
4. Plain, obvious
5. Distinct
6. Without blemish, defect, drawback, or diminution
7. Lucid
8. Transparent
9. Not coded
10. Not blocked

adverb

1. In a clear manner
2. Plainly
3. Wholly
4. Quite
5. Out of the way (of)

transitive verb

1. To make clear
2. To empty
3. To free from obscurity, obstruction or guilt
4. To free, acquit or vindicate
5. To leap, or pass by or over
6. To make as profit
7. To settle (eg a bill)
8. To decode
9. To unscramble
10. To declare free from security, etc restrictions
11. To remove (data) from memory so that fresh data can be recorded (computing)
12. To pass (a cheque, etc) through a clearing bank
13. To pass through (customs, etc)

intransitive verb

1. To become clear
2. To grow free, bright, transparent
3. To sail after satisfying all demands and obtaining permission

clearˈable adjective

clearˈage noun

A piece of land cleared

clearˈance noun

1. The act of clearing
2. General removal or emptying
3. Eviction from lands
4. Removal of hindrances
5. Intervening space
6. Play between parts, as of a machine
7. A certificate that a ship has been cleared at the custom house
8. A declaration of freedom from restrictions

clearˈer noun

1. Someone who or something that clears
2. A clearing bank

clearˈing noun

1. The act of making clear
2. An area with no trees within a forest or woodland
3. The tract of land cleared of wood, etc for cultivation
4. The method by which bankers change cheques and drafts, and arrange the differences
5. The method or process by which the final remaining university and college places are allocated to hitherto unsuccessful applicants shortly before the courses start

clearˈly adverb

1. In a clear manner
2. Distinctly
3. Obviously

clearˈness noun

clearance cairn noun (archaeology)

A heap of stones cleared from agricultural land, as distinct from a burial cairn

clearance sale noun

A sale of goods at reduced prices in order to make room for new stock

clear-cutˈ adjective

1. Sharp in outline, definite
2. Free from obscurity

clear'-cutting noun

The practice of cutting down all the trees in an area of forest

clear-eyedˈ adjective

Clear-sighted, discerning

clear felling noun

The wholesale felling of all the trees in a particular area

clear-headˈed adjective

Having a clear understanding

clear-headˈedly adverb

clearing bank noun

A bank that is a member of the London Bankers' Clearing House, through which it makes credit and cheque transfers to and from other banks

clearing house noun

1. An office where financial clearing business is done
2. A central source or pool of information, etc

clearˈing-nut noun

The seed of Strychnos potatorum used in India and SE Asia for clearing muddy water

clearing sale noun (Aust)

The sale of moveable property and stock from a farm or similar property, esp following the sale of the land and buildings

clear-obscureˈ same as chiaroscuro

clear-sightˈed adjective

1. Having clearness of sight
2. Discerning

clear-sightˈedly adverb

clear-sightˈedness noun

clearˈskin see cleanskin under clean

clearˈ-starchˈer noun

A laundress

clear-starchˈing noun

The act of stiffening linen with clear starch

clearˈstory see clerestory

clearˈway noun

A stretch of road on which motorists are not allowed to stop

clearˈwing noun

A transparent-winged moth of the family Sesiidae, often resembling wasps

clear as a bell see under bell¹

clear away

To remove (crockery, uneaten food, etc) after a meal

clear off

1. To get rid of, dispose of
2. To go away, esp in order to avoid something (informal)

clear one's throat

To give a slight cough

clear out

1. To get rid of
2. To empty
3. To empty out, sort through, tidy up (eg a room or cupboard), throwing away unwanted material (clearˈ-out noun)
4. (of a ship) to clear and leave port
5. To take oneself off

clear the air

To simplify the situation and relieve tension

clear the decks (figurative)

To clear away everything surplus, so as to prepare for action

clear the way

To make the way open

clear up

1. To make or to become clear
2. (of weather) to become fine after cloudiness, rain or snow
3. To explain (a mystery, misunderstanding, etc)
4. To tidy up (clearˈ-up noun)
5. (of an ailment) to get better

in the clear

1. Free of suspicion
2. Out of a difficulty
3. Solvent