Clearance

Origin

clear + -ance

Full definition of clearance

Noun

1. The act of clearing or something (such as a space) cleared
2. The distance between two moving objects, especially between parts of a machine
3. 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.
4. A permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel.The plane got clearance from air traffic control, and we were off.He got clearance to travel to America, even though he had previous links to terrorists
5. A permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information
6. A sale of merchandise at a reduced price.
7. (banking, finance) The settlement of transactions involving securities or means of payment such as checks by means of a clearing house.
8. (medicine) The removal of harmful substances from the blood; renal clearance.
9. (sports, billiards, snooker, pool) The act of potting all the remaining balls on a table at one visit.
10. (soccer) The act of kicking a ball away from the goal one is defending.
• 2010, December 29, Chris Whyatt, Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton, Bolton were then just inches from taking the lead, but the dangerous-looking Taylor drilled just wide after picking up a loose ball following Jose Bosingwa's poor attempted clearance.
11. (chess) Removal of pieces from a rank, file or diagonal so that a bishop, rook or queen is free to move along it.
12. Clear or net profit.