1 N‑VAR Claret is a type of French red wine.
2 COLOUR Something that is claret is purplish-red in colour. [LITERARY ]
clari|fied /klæ r I fa I d/ ADJ Clarified butter has been made clear by being heated.
clari|fy /klæ r I fa I / (clarifies , clarifying , clarified ) VERB To clarify something means to make it easier to understand, usually by explaining it in more detail. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] A bank spokesman was unable to clarify the situation. ● clari|fi|ca|tion /klæ r I f I ke I ʃ ə n/ (clarifications ) N‑VAR □ [+ of ] The union has written to Zurich asking for clarification of the situation.
clari|net /klæ r I ne t/ (clarinets ) N‑VAR A clarinet is a musical instrument of the woodwind family in the shape of a pipe. You play the clarinet by blowing into it and covering and uncovering the holes with your fingers.
clari|net|tist /klæ r I ne t I st/ (clarinettists ) also clarinetist N‑COUNT A clarinettist is someone who plays the clarinet.
cla ri|on call (clarion calls ) N‑COUNT A clarion call is a strong and emotional appeal to people to do something. [LITERARY ] □ [+ for ] Paine's words are a clarion call for democracy.
clar|ity /klæ r I ti/
1 N‑UNCOUNT The clarity of something such as a book or argument is its quality of being well explained and easy to understand. □ …the clarity with which the author explains technical subjects.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Clarity is the ability to think clearly. □ [+ of ] In business circles he is noted for his flair and clarity of vision.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Clarity is the quality of being clear in outline or sound. □ This remarkable technology provides far greater clarity than conventional x-rays.
clash ◆◇◇ /klæ ʃ/ (clashes , clashing , clashed )
1 VERB When people clash , they fight, argue, or disagree with each other. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V + with ] A group of 400 demonstrators clashed with police. □ [V + with ] Behind the scenes, Parsons clashed with almost everyone on the show. □ [V + over ] The working groups have also clashed over genetically modified crops. ● N‑COUNT Clash is also a noun. □ [+ between ] There have been a number of clashes between police in riot gear and demonstrators. [Also + with ]
2 VERB Beliefs, ideas, or qualities that clash with each other are very different from each other and therefore are opposed. □ [V + with ] Don't make any policy decisions which clash with official company thinking. □ [V ] Here, morality and good sentiments clash headlong. ● N‑COUNT Clash is also a noun. □ [+ of ] Inside government, there was a clash of views.
3 VERB If one event clashes with another, the two events happen at the same time so that you cannot attend both of them. □ [V + with ] I couldn't go on the trip as it clashed with my final exams.
4 VERB If one colour or style clashes with another, the colours or styles look ugly together. You can also say that two colours or styles clash . □ [V + with ] The red door clashed with the soft, natural tones of the stone walls. □ [V ] So what if the colours clashed? SYNONYMS clash VERB 1
fight: As a child she fought with her younger sister.
argue: They were still arguing; I could hear them down the road.
disagree: They can communicate even when they strongly disagree.
quarreclass="underline" At one point we quarrelled, over something silly.
feud: He feuded with his ex-wife. COLLOCATIONS clash VERB 1
clash + adverb : repeatedly; angrily, violently NOUN
1
adjective + clash : violent
2
noun + clash : culture, personality
clasp /klɑː sp, klæ sp/ (clasps , clasping , clasped )
1 VERB If you clasp someone or something, you hold them tightly in your hands or arms. □ [V n] She clasped the children to her. □ [V -ed] He paced the corridor, hands clasped behind his back.
2 N‑COUNT A clasp is a small device that fastens something. □ [+ of ] …the clasp of her handbag.
class ◆◆◆ /klɑː s, klæ s/ (classes , classing , classed )
1 N‑COUNT A class is a group of pupils or students who are taught together. □ He had to spend about six months in a class with younger students. □ Reducing class sizes should be a top priority.
2 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] A class is a course of teaching in a particular subject. □ He acquired a law degree by taking classes at night. □ I go to dance classes here in New York.
3 N‑UNCOUNT [in N ] If you do something in class , you do it during a lesson in school. □ There is lots of reading in class.
4 N‑SING The students in a school or university who finish their course in a particular year are often referred to as the class of that year. □ [+ of ] These two members of Yale's Class of 2002 never miss a reunion.
5 N‑VAR Class refers to the division of people in a society into groups according to their social status. □ …the relationship between social classes. □ …the characteristics of the British class structure.