Main Entry:

clear·ance

Pronunciation:

\ˈklir-ən(t)s\

Function:

noun

Date:

1540

1: an act or process of clearing: as a: the removal of buildings from an area (as a city slum) b: the act of clearing a ship at the customhouse ; also : the papers showing that a ship has cleared c: the offsetting of checks and other claims among banks through a clearinghouse d: certification as clear of objection : authorization <security clearance> e: a sale to clear out stock f: authorization for an aircraft to proceed especially with a specified action <clearance to land> 2: the distance by which one object clears another or the clear space between them3: the volume of blood or plasma that can be freed of a specified constituent in a specified time by its excretion into the urine through the kidneys <a creatine clearance of 25 milliliters per minute> —called also renal clearance