éclaircir

A. vtr

• 1 to lighten [colour]; to lighten the colour (GB) of [paint, hair] Definition of lighten in the British & World English dictionary Definition of lighten in the US English dictionary Translate lighten | into German | into Italian | into Spanish

• 2 to shed light on [sth] Definition of shed light on in the British & World English dictionary Definition of shed light on in the US English dictionary Translate shed light on | into Italian

B. v refl (+ v être) (s'éclaircir)

• 1 [weather] to clear l'horizon s'éclaircit (figurative) = the outlook is getting brighter Definition of clear in the British & World English dictionary Definition of clear in the US English dictionary Translate clear | into German | into Italian | into Spanish

• 2 [colour] to fade; [hair] to get lighter Definition of fade in the British & World English dictionary Definition of fade in the US English dictionary Translate fade | into German | into Italian | into Spanish

• 3 [situation, mystery] to become clearer

• 4 [crowd, forest] to thin out Definition of thin out in the British & World English dictionary Definition of thin out in the US English dictionary Translate thin out | into German | into Italian

• 5s'éclaircir les cheveux = to lighten one's hair s'éclaircir la voix or la gorge = to clear one's throat