clairière

fr
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clearing, glade, forest opening, clearing, bright interval
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/klɛ.ʁjɛʁ/
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An open space in woodland, and by literary extension a moment of light, calm, or clarity inside something dense or dark.

Examples

  • Le poète cherche une clairière de sens dans la nuit.
    The poet seeks a clearing of meaning in the night.
  • Son sourire ouvrait une clairière dans la journée morose.
    Her smile opened a clearing in the gloomy day.
  • Dans ce récit, l’enfance devient une clairière au milieu du chagrin.
    In this story, childhood becomes a clearing in the middle of grief.
  • Nous avons monté la tente dans la clairière avant la tombée de la nuit.
    We pitched the tent in the clearing before nightfall.
  • Les randonneurs se sont arrêtés dans une clairière entourée de hêtres.
    The hikers stopped in a clearing surrounded by beeches.

Similar words

respiration
échappée
répit
espace dégagé
éclaircie
lueur
accalmie
ouverture
ouverture
trouée

Meanings

Forest clearing

noun
nature
neutral
An open patch inside a wood or forest where trees are absent and light reaches the ground.

Examples

  • Les randonneurs se sont arrêtés dans une clairière entourée de hêtres.
    The hikers stopped in a clearing surrounded by beeches.
  • Le sentier débouche sur une clairière au milieu des pins.
    The path comes out into a clearing among the pines.
  • Des chevreuils broutaient au bord de la clairière.
    Deer were grazing at the edge of the clearing.
  • Nous avons monté la tente dans la clairière avant la tombée de la nuit.
    We pitched the tent in the clearing before nightfall.
  • La lumière du matin remplissait la clairière de mousse et de fougères.
    Morning light filled the clearing with moss and ferns.

Similar words

Figurative opening

noun
figurative
literary
A bright, peaceful, or breathable space that appears within something dark, dense, confused, or painful.

Examples

  • Son sourire ouvrait une clairière dans la journée morose.
    Her smile opened a clearing in the gloomy day.
  • Dans ce récit, l’enfance devient une clairière au milieu du chagrin.
    In this story, childhood becomes a clearing in the middle of grief.
  • Quelques minutes de silence ont formé une clairière dans le vacarme.
    A few minutes of silence formed a clearing in the noise.
  • Le poète cherche une clairière de sens dans la nuit.
    The poet seeks a clearing of meaning in the night.
  • Ce souvenir reste une clairière douce au cœur de l’exil.
    This memory remains a gentle clearing at the heart of exile.

Similar words

Etymology

Attested in French by the sixteenth century, from clair with the suffix -ière, carrying the idea of an open, light-filled place.

FAQ

What does clairière mean?

clairière means a clearing or glade in a wood or forest.

Can clairière be figurative?

Yes. In literary use, clairière can suggest a space of light, peace, or clarity inside something darker or more difficult.

Is clairière masculine or feminine?

clairière is feminine, so French uses la clairière and une clairière.

Is clairière the same as prairie?

No. clairière is an opening within woodland, while prairie is a meadow or grassland.

What are close French words for clairière?

Close words include trouée, échappée, and ouverture, depending on the context.

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