clarify

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈklɛɹ.ɪ.faɪ/ UK /ˈklæɹ.ɪ.faɪ/ See IPA manual

Freq #10482

Meanings

1

verb
To make something easier to understand by explaining it more clearly.

Could you clarify what you mean by this?
2

verb
To make a liquid such as butter or oil clear by removing solid bits, usually by heating.

You should clarify the butter before adding it to the sauce.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to make something easier to... explain

Word family

Forms clarifiedclarifiesclarifying

Derived forms clarifiabilityclarifiableexplainifyreclarify

Related forms clarification

Etymology

From Middle English clarifien, from Old French clarifiier, from Latin clārificō, clārificāre; clārus (“clear”) + faciō, facere (“make”). Semantically clear + -ify.

*kelh₁- Proto-Indo-European clarifien Middle English clarifiier Old French clarifico Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# clarify

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈklɛɹ.ɪ.faɪ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈklæɹ.ɪ.faɪ/
**Frequency rank:** 10482

## Meanings
1. To make something easier to understand by explaining it more clearly.
2. To make a liquid such as butter or oil clear by removing solid bits, usually by heating.

## Examples
- Could you clarify what you mean by this?
- You should clarify the butter before adding it to the sauce.

## Derived Forms
- clarifiability
- clarifiable
- explainify
- reclarify

## Related Forms
- clarification

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *kelh₁-
- Root: clarifien
- Root: clarifiier
- Root: clarifico
- Affix: -ify - to make

## Etymology
From Middle English clarifien, from Old French clarifiier, from Latin clārificō, clārificāre; clārus (“clear”) + faciō, facere (“make”). Semantically clear + -ify.

## AI Etymology
clarify is a verb. It is from Middle English clarifien, from Old French clarifiier, from Latin clārificō, clārificāre; clārus (“clear”) + faciō, facere (“make”). Semantically clear + -ify. Historical forms in the chain include *kelh₁- (Proto-Indo-European), clarifien (Middle English), clarifiier (Old French), and clarifico (Latin). Current senses include to make something easier to understand by explaining it more clearly and to make a liquid such as butter or oil clear by removing solid bits, usually by heating. Derived forms include clarifiability, clarifiable, explainify, and reclarify. Related words include clarification.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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