verb 1. to give reasons for something ○ Can you explain why the weather is cold in winter and warm in summer? 2. to make something clear ○ He tried to explain the new pension scheme to the staff. ○ She explained what had happened, but the manager still thought she had tried to steal the watch.
ex•plain´
(eks•plan´), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Explained(- pland´); p. pr. & vb. n. Explaining.] [L. explandare to flatten, spread out, explain; ex out + plandare to make level or plain, planus plain: cf. OF. esplaner, explaner. See Plain,a., and cf. Esplanade.]
1. To flatten; to spread out; to unfold; to expand. [Obs.] “The horse-chestnut is … ready to explain its leaf.” Evelyn.
2. To make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity; to expound; to unfold and illustrate the meaning of; as to explain a chapter of the Bible. “Commentators to explain the difficult passages to you.” Gay. To explain away, to get rid of by explanation. ´Those explain the meaning quite away.´ Pope. Syn. — To expound; interpret; elucidate; clear up.
1. To flatten; to spread out; to unfold; to expand. [Obs.] “The horse-chestnut is … ready to explain its leaf.” Evelyn.
2. To make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity; to expound; to unfold and illustrate the meaning of; as to explain a chapter of the Bible. “Commentators to explain the difficult passages to you.” Gay. To explain away, to get rid of by explanation. ´Those explain the meaning quite away.´ Pope. Syn. — To expound; interpret; elucidate; clear up.
Meaning of “explain” in English language – verb 1. to give reasons for something ○...
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