simple
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sim·ple (sim′pəl)
adjective simpler -·pler, simplest -·plest
- having or consisting of only one part, feature, substance, etc.; not compounded or complex; single
- having few parts or features; not complicated or involved a simple pattern
- easy to do, solve, or understand, as a task, question, etc.
- without additions or qualifications; mere; bare the simple facts
- not ornate; unembellished; unadorned simple clothes
- not luxurious or elegant; plain simple tastes
- pure; unadulterated
- without guile or deceit; innocent; artless
- without ostentation or affectation; natural
- lacking sophistication; naive
- of low rank or position; specif.,
- humble; lowly
- common; ordinary
- lacking significance; unimportant
- having or showing little sense or reasoning ability; easily misled or deceived; stupid or foolish
- uneducated or ignorant
- Bot.
- consisting of one piece; whole
- not branched
- developing from a single pistil or carpel a simple fruit
- Chem.
- elementary
- unmixed
- Law unconditional; absolute in fee simple
- Zool. not divided into or made up of parts; not compounded a simple eye
Etymology: OFr < L simplus < IE *sṃplos < bases *sem-, one + *-plo-, -fold: see double
noun
- a person who is ignorant or easily misled
- something having only one part, substance, etc.
- Archaic
- a medicinal herb
- a medicine made from such a plant
- Archaic a person of humble position
Related Forms:
- simpleness sim′·ple·ness noun
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Alternate definitions:
simple
modif.
Not complicated
single, unmixed, unblended, mere, uncompounded, unalloyed, unadulterated, not complex, uncomplicated, without confusion, simplistic, not confusing, pure. Plain
unadorned, unaffected, homely; see modest 2.Easy
easy, not difficult, mild, of little difficulty, not arduous, done with ease, with great facility, manageable, presenting no difficulty, not puzzling; see also easy 2.Antonyms
obscure*, puzzling*, difficult*. * Stupid
Unsophisticated
ingenuous, plain, artless; see innocent 1, naive. See syn. study at easy.
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.
Converse of object
- keep: Foundations 2 & 3 state ‘ understand the risk reward ratio ' and ‘ Try and keep things simple ' .
Adjective complement with noun phrase
- keep: To keep things simple, we suggest that you copy the pictures you wish to use into your My Pictures or My Documents folder.
Modifies a noun
- step: The five simple steps will be: 1. Complete your details.
Modifying Another Word
- relatively: There are two relatively simple approaches to solve such equations.
Infinitive complement
- install: Being fully portable, they are simple to install.
Used with adjective complement
- seem: It seems simple, but I make it so complicated.
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.
The entrance of thy wordsgiveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
All known religious beliefs, whether simple or complex, present one common characteristic: they presuppose a classification of all things, real and ideal, of which men think, into two classes or opposed groups, generally designatedprofane and sacred.
Everything should be madeassimpleaspossible, but not simpler.
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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MLA Style
"simple." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009
- Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
- <www.yourdictionary.com/simple>
APA Style
simple. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary
- Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/simple
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