Link Centre Dictionary

explain

exp·lain

UK/ɪkˈspleɪn/ US/ɛkˈspleɪn/ very common

verb

1.

make palin and comprehensible

  • “He explained the laws of physics to his students”
Synonyms
2.

define

  • “The committe explained their plan for fund-raising to the Dean”
3.

serve as a reason or cause or justification of

  • “Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at work”
  • “Her recent divorce amy explain her reluctance to date again”
Synonyms

Origin

From Middle English explanen, from Old French explaner, from Latin explanō (“to flatten, spread out, make plain or clear, explain”), from ex- (“out”) + planō (“to flatten, make level”), from planus (“level, plain”); see plain and plane. Compare esplanade, splanade. Displaced Old English reċċan.

Phrases

  • explain away
  • please explain
  • retain and explain

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.