1. A row of windows in the upper part of a church or cathedral wall that allows light into the interior.
Usage: Also spelled 'clerestory' (more common modern spelling).; Architectural term.

Examples

• The clearstory windows of the cathedral flooded the nave with natural light.
• Medieval architects designed clearstories to illuminate the interior without compromising structural integrity.
• Light streamed through the clearstory, creating dramatic patterns on the stone floor.
• The church's clearstory consisted of a series of small arched openings.
• Visitors marveled at how the clearstory transformed the dim interior into a luminous space.