clarear

to lighten

to clear up

clarear(klah-reh-ahr)

transitive verb

1. (to make paler)

a. to lighten

Los colores del cuadro son demasiado oscuros. Mézclalos con blanco para clarearlos.

The colors in the picture are too dark. Mix them with white to lighten them.

b. to make lighter

Si no clareas la imagen, es difícil distinguir a la gente que aparece en ella.

If you don't make the picture lighter, it's hard to make out the people in it.

2. (to throw light on)

a. to light up

Los primeros rayos del sol empezaron a clarear el interior de la casa.

The first rays of the sun began to light up the interior of the house.

impersonal verb

3. (to brighten up)

a. to clear up

Después de horas lloviendo por fin empezó a clarear.

After several hours of rain it finally started to clear up.

4. (to dawn)

a. to grow light

Empezaba a clarear cuando el viajero llegó a la puerta de la ciudad.

It was beginning to grow light when the traveler arrived at the city gate.

b. to get light

En esta época del año, a las seis ya clarea.

At this time of year, it gets light at six o'clock.

c. to break (intransitive verb)

Los colores rosados del cielo cuando clarea son preciosos.

The pink colors of the sky when dawn breaks are really beautiful.

intransitive verb

5. (to become sparse)

a. to thin

Mi padre está deprimido porque le clarea el pelo.

My father is depressed because his hair is thinning.

clarearse

pronominal verb

6. (to be translucent)

a. to be transparent

Estas sábanas están tan usadas que ya clarean.

These sheets are so worn-out that they are transparent.

b. to be see-through

La tela de la camisa es tan fina que clarea.

The fabric of the shirt is so thin that it is see-through.