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Definition of clarify verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    clarify

     verb
    verb
    NAmE//ˈklærəˌfaɪ//
     
    Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they clarify
     
    he / she / it clarifies
     
    past simple clarified
     
    -ing form clarifying
     
     
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  1. 1(formal) to make something clearer or easier to understand clarify something to clarify a situation/problem/issue I hope this clarifies my position. The law on drugs needs to be clarified. Talking to someone has helped clarify my feelings. clarify what/how, etc… She asked him to clarify what he meant. Language Bankdefinedefining terms
    • It is important to clarify what is meant by climate change.
    • Climate change can/may be defined as “the long-term fluctuations in temperature, precipitation, wind, and other aspects of the earth's climate.”
    • A generally accepted definition of global warming is the gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere due to the greenhouse effect.
    • The greenhouse effect is defined by the author as the process by which heat from the sun is trapped in the earth's atmosphere, causing the temperature of the earth to rise.
    • The author uses the term “climate change”to refer to any significant change in measures of climate lasting for an extended period.
    • The term “carbon footprint”refers to the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of an individual or organization.
    • Scientists suggest that increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will result in an increase in global temperatures, and the term “global warming”is used to describe this phenomenon.
  2. 2clarify something to make something, especially butter, pure by heating it clarified butter
    3. clear adjective (≠unclear)clearly adverbclarity nounclarify verb
 clarification
 
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NAmE//ˌklærəfəˈkeɪʃn//
 
noun [uncountable, countable] I am seeking clarification of the regulations. AWL Collocationsclarifyclarify verbto make something clearer or easier to understand
  • definitively, fully
  • greatly
  • further
The following sections of this paper will further clarify the methodology.
  • aim to, attempt to, seek to
  • serve to
  • help to
Additional research in several areas may help to clarify some remaining questions.
  • ambiguity
  • misconception
  • distinction
  • relationship
  • role
  • issue, matter
  • position, situation
  • meaning
Garcia clarified the relationship that exists between language and culture.clarification noun
  • further
Further clarification of these relationships is required.
  • need, require
  • seek
This analysis is confusing and needs further clarification.clarity noun
  • lack
  • obscure
  • enhance, improve
  • bring, lend, offer, provide
  • achieve, gain
Kangle's translation is considered the most authentic, but lacks clarity in some instances.
  • lack of clarify
One reason for the lack of clarity is that measurement varies greatly across studies.See clarify in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
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