explain
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ex·plain (ek splān′, ik-)
transitive verb
- to make clear, plain, or understandable
- to give the meaning or interpretation of; expound
- to account for; state reasons for
Etymology: ME explanen < L explanare, to flatten < ex-, out + planare, to make level < planus, level (see plane): sp. infl. by plain
intransitive verb
Related Forms:
- explainable ex·plain′·able adjective
explain away
explain oneself
- to make clear what one means
- to give reasons justifying one's conduct
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
explain
v.
explain implies making clear or intelligible something that is not known or understood to explain how a machine operates; expound implies a systematic and thorough explanation, often by a person having expert knowledge to expound a theory; explicate implies a scholarly analysis or exposition that is developed in detail the explication of a Biblical passage; elucidate implies a shedding light upon by clear and specific explanation, illustration, etc. to elucidate the country's foreign policy; to interpret is to bring out meanings not immediately apparent, as by translation, searching insight, or special knowledge how do you interpret his behavior?; construe suggests a careful interpretation of something especially where meaning is ambiguous her silence was construed as agreement
Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Followed by a transitive particle
- away: They turned to superstition as well as religion to explain away the causes.
Object
- phenomenon: They use physical ideas to explain simple phenomena for example, the formation of shadows, sounds being heard through a variety of materials.
Used with why or when
- why: In the ' Answer ' , you can explain why you disagree with the facts used to refuse your claim.
Modifying Another Word
- briefly: I find unlikely I'll just briefly explain the plot of Friends.
Preposition: in
- detail: These courses are explained in more detail in section 2.
The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.
You will find in politics that you are much exposed to the attribution of false motives. Never complain and never explain.
'Why,'said the Dodo,'the best way to explain it is to do it.'
You explain nothing,O poet, but thanks to you all things become explicable.
Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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"explain." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009
- Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
- <www.yourdictionary.com/explain>
APA Style
explain. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary
- Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/explain
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