Link Centre Dictionary

explanation

exp·la·na·tion

US/ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/ common

noun

1.

a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.

  • “the explanation was very simple”
  • “I expected a brief account”
Synonyms
2.
3.

the act of explaining; making something plain or intelligible

  • “I heard his explanation of the accident”

Origin

From Latin explanatio (“an explanation, interpretation”), from explanare (“explain”); see explain. Morphologically explain + -ation. Displaced native Old English racu.

Phrases

  • explorable explanation
  • inference to the best explanation

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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.