clearing

Everyday

1. A clearing is an open space in a wood or forest where there are no trees. tree →
2. Clearing is the -ing form of the verb «clear»: taking things away so a place is empty, tidy or open (clearing the table, clearing snow). tree →
3. Clearing also describes weather getting brighter as clouds go away. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, characters walk through a dark forest and come out into a sunny clearing, often where something important happens. In everyday life children help with clearing the table or clearing up. In weather reports «clearing» means the rain is stopping. Phrases: a forest clearing, clearing up, clearing the table, clearing away.

Examples

• The deer stood in a clearing in the forest. tree →
• We put up our tent in a small clearing. tree →
• Sunlight shone into the clearing. tree →
• I am clearing the table after dinner. tree →
• The workers are clearing snow from the road. tree →
• The sky is clearing, so we can go outside. tree →
• The children were clearing away the paints. tree →
• Now they reached a clearing in the forest and there stood a statue. tree →

Note

As a noun it is countable (a clearing, two clearings). As a verb form: clear, clears, cleared, clearing. «Clear up» = tidy, or stop raining. In a clearing (not «on a clearing»).