Definition of Explain

1. Verb. Make plain and comprehensible. "Sam and Sue explain the movie "; "He explained the laws of physics to his students"

Exact synonyms: Explicate
Generic synonyms: Inform
Specialized synonyms: Interpret, Rede, Account For, Naturalize, Clarify, Clear Up, Elucidate, Comment
Derivative terms: Explanation, Explanatory, Explication, Explication

2. Verb. Define. "They explain that there was a traffic accident "; "The committee explained their plan for fund-raising to the Dean"
Generic synonyms: Say, State, Tell
Derivative terms: Explanation, Explanatory

3. Verb. Serve as a reason or cause or justification of. "Her recent divorce may explain her reluctance to date again"
Exact synonyms: Excuse
Specialized synonyms: Alibi
Generic synonyms: Justify, Vindicate
Derivative terms: Excuse, Explanation

Definition of Explain

1. v. t. To flatten; to spread out; to unfold; to expand.

2. v. i. To give an explanation.

Definition of Explain

1. to make plain or understandable [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Explain

1. 1. To flatten; to spread out; to unfold; to expand. "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." Synonym: To expound, interpret, elucidate, clear up. Origin: L. Explandare to flatten, spread out, explain; ex out+plandare to make level or plain, planus plain: cf. OF. Esplaner, explaner. See Plain, and cf. Esplanade. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Explain

expire
expire
expired
expired gas
expirer
expirers
expires
expiries
expiring
expiring
expiry
expiscate
expiscation
expiscatory
explain (current term)
explain (current term)
explainable
explained
explainer
explainers
explaining
explains
explanandum
explanans
explanate
explanation
explanations
explanative
explanatively
explanatorily

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