Yahoo Canada Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   explain

   /ɪkˈspleɪn/

   verb

   • 1. make (an idea or situation) clear to someone by describing it in more detail or revealing relevant facts: "they explained that their lives centred on the religious rituals" Similar describegive an explanation ofmake clear/plain/intelligiblespell output into wordsexpress in wordselucidateexpoundexplicatedelineateclarifyunfoldthrow light onclear upsimplifyglossinterpretdecipherdecodetranslatedemonstrateshowteachillustrateunraveluntangleresolvesolveinformal:get acrossget overOpposite obscure
   • ▪ give a reason so as to justify or excuse (an action or event): "Cassie found it necessary to explain her blackened eye" Similar account forgive an explanation forgive a reason forjustifygive a justification forgive an excuse/alibi/apologia formake excuses forexplain awayrationalizegive a rationale fordefendvindicatelegitimizemitigaterare:extenuate
   • ▪ be the cause of or motivating factor for: "her father's violence explains her pacifism"
   • ▪ minimize the significance of an embarrassing fact or action by giving an excuse or justification: "they know stories about me that I can't explain away"

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Latin explanare, based on planus ‘plain’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. explainable adjective

   Scrabble Points: 16

   • E

     1

   • X

     8

   • P

     3

   • L

     1

   • A

     1

   • I

     1

   • N

     1

   Powered by Oxford Dictionaries

   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › explainExplain Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › explain

   • Cached

   1. a. : to make known. explain the secret of your success. b. : to make plain or understandable. footnotes that explain the terms. 2. : to give the reason for or cause of. unable to explain his strange conduct. 3. : to show the logical development or relationships of. explained the new theory. intransitive verb.

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishEXPLAIN | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   EXPLAIN definition: 1. to make something clear or easy to understand by describing or giving information about it: 2…. Learn more.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › explainEXPLAIN Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › explain

   • Cached

   To explain something is to make it plain or clear, or to render it understandable or intelligible. How does explain compare to synonyms elucidate, expound, and interpret? Find out on Thesaurus.com.

5. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishEXPLAIN definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   To explain is to make plain, clear, or intelligible something that is not known or understood: to explain a theory or a problem. To elucidate is to throw light on what before was dark and obscure, usually by illustration and commentary and sometimes by elaborate explanation: They asked him to elucidate his statement.

6. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › explainExplain - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › explain

   To explain something is to define it, show how it works, or just tell what it is. Explaining helps people understand.

7. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishexplain verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

   • Cached

   explain. [transitive, intransitive] to tell somebody about something in a way that makes it easy to understand. explain (something) He was trying to explain the difference between hip hop and rap. First, I'll explain the rules of the game. The theory is not explained in detail.

8. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishEXPLAIN | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

   • Cached

   EXPLAIN definition: 1. to make something clear or easy to understand by giving reasons for it or details about it: 2…. Learn more.

9. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › american_englishexplain verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › american_english

   • Cached

   Definition of explain verb in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

10. www.merriam-webster.com › thesaurus › explainEXPLAIN Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words - Merriam-Webster

    www.merriam-webster.com › thesaurus › explain

    • Cached

    Synonyms for EXPLAIN: clarify, illustrate, demonstrate, simplify, interpret, illuminate, elucidate, explicate; Antonyms of EXPLAIN: obscure, confuse, cloud, confound, obfuscate, befog

11. www.yourdictionary.com › explainExplain Definition & Meaning | YourDictionary

    www.yourdictionary.com › explain

    • Cached

    To offer reasons for the actions, beliefs, or remarks of (oneself). American Heritage. More Verb Definitions (1) Synonyms: explicate. excuse. exposit. expatiate. expand. elaborate. dilate. resolve.