explain vs clear up

explain and clear up both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
explain	No	No	Yes	No
clear up	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, clear up is a hyponym of explain; that is, clear up is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than explain:

Other hyponyms of explain include interpret, rede, account for, naturalize, clarify, elucidate, comment.

explain (verb)	clear up (verb)
make plain and comprehensible	free (the throat) by making a rasping sound
define	finish a task completely
serve as a reason or cause or justification of	make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear
	make clear and (more) comprehensible
	become clear