[Vocabulary] to clear

[constantinusphilo]

This is a quote from The Rule of Four, a novel by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason:

The afro he’s grown after four months without a haircut barely clears the ceiling.

As far as far I can understand, it means 'touches', or 'wipes'.

 

[5jj]

No. It almost touches the ceiling.

 

[emsr2d2]

If, when he is standing up, the top of his afro is just one inch below the ceiling, then it clears the ceiling by one inch.

 

[tedmc]

There is little space/clearance between the guy's hair and ceiling, which goes to show how high the hair has puffed up.