Read along with the three podcasts, or open the full dictionary entry for Keep clear for the definition, Arabic meaning, synonyms and example sentences.
Narrator: Today's word is Keep-clear — verb phrase, pronounced /kiːp klɪər/, with the stress on the first syllable.
Narrator: To keep-clear means to maintain a distance or to ensure that a specific area remains unobstructed.
Narrator: In plain English, it means staying away from a hazard or leaving enough space so that others can pass through easily.
Narrator: The phrase is formed from the Middle English keep meaning to guard and clear meaning free from obstruction or blockages.
Narrator: A common collocation is keep-clear of the door, which is often found on signage in busy transit environments.
Narrator: It differs from avoid because keep-clear specifically implies maintaining a physical buffer zone rather than just steering around an object.
Narrator: The term is also used figuratively in accounting to mean keeping one's records free of errors or discrepancies.
Narrator: Maritime navigation, aviation safety, and urban planning are the primary real-world fields that rely on this term.
Narrator: So remember: keep-clear is your directive to maintain distance and ensure safety by preventing clutter in essential spaces.
Speaker A: I notice these signs everywhere in London, but why do we specifically use this phrasing instead of just saying stay away?
Speaker B: It is all about precision; KEEP-CLEAR originates from maritime signals where vessels must maintain a safe distance from channel markers.
Speaker A: So is it strictly about keeping away from danger?
Speaker B: Exactly, it is a formal way to ensure public order and safety in restricted zones.
Speaker A: Example sentences?
Speaker B: Drivers must keep-clear of the yellow box junction at all times. Keep-clear of the emergency exit. Please keep-clear of the loading bay entrance.
Speaker A: Common mistakes?
Speaker B: People often mistakenly hyphenate it as a noun, but it should only be hyphenated when acting as an adjective before a noun.
Speaker A: Close relatives?
Speaker B: Avoid is the cousin, stay-away is the twin, and bypass is the alternative; keep-clear keeps its safety-focused charm!
Speaker B: Let's use keep-clear in AI prompts — useful for maritime navigation systems and warehouse logistics management.
Speaker A: How do we apply this in a maritime navigation script?
Speaker B: You can instruct the system to maintain safe distance protocols.
Prompt: Draft a safety protocol for autonomous vessels to keep-clear of restricted harbour zones during peak shipping hours.
Speaker A: What about for warehouse logistics?
Speaker B: You should use the term to define pathing constraints for robots.
Prompt: Generate a set of movement rules for warehouse robots to keep-clear of fire exit paths while transporting goods.
Speaker A: Can it be used in general urban planning software?
Speaker B: Yes, it helps in creating clear-path constraints for public infrastructure.
Prompt: Write a structural requirement specification for a city planning app to ensure all bicycle lanes keep-clear of bus stops.
Speaker A: One more?
Speaker B: Let's do one for professional digital communication and document management.
Prompt: Create a style guide entry for technical writers on how to keep-clear of ambiguous terminology in safety documentation.
Keep clear — meaning in Arabic & definition More K courses GL Dictionary