clearinghouse: Meaning and Definition of

clear•ing•house

Pronunciation: (klēr'ing-hous"), [key]
— pl. -hous•es
  1. a place or institution where mutual claims and accounts are settled, as between banks.
  2. a central institution or agency for the collection, maintenance, and distribution of materials, information, etc.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.