explain (ɪkˈspleɪn
)
Definitions
verb
- (when tr, may take a clause as object) to make (something) comprehensible, esp by giving a clear and detailed account of the relevant structure, operation, surrounding circumstances, etc
- (tr) to justify or attempt to justify (oneself) by giving reasons for one's actions or words
Alternative Forms
exˈplainable adjective exˈplainer nounWord Origin
C15: from Latin explānāre to flatten, from plānus levelSynonyms
View thesaurus entry= make clear or plain
describe,
demonstrate,
illustrate,
teach,
define,
solve,
resolve,
interpret,
disclose,
unfold,
clarify,
clear up,
simplify,
expound,
elucidate,
put into words,
throw light on,
explicate,
give the details of
Quotations
"Never explain - your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway"
Translations
- British English:
explain
If you explain something, you give details about it or describe it so that it can be understood.I had a meeting with him and explained the situation.ɪkˈspleɪn VERB I had a meeting with him and explained the situation.
- Spanish:
explicar
v
- French:
expliquer
v
- German:
erklären
v
- Chinese: 解释 vi
- Arabic: يَشْرَحُ vt
- Portuguese: explicar-se vi
- Russian: объяснять vt
- Croatian: objasniti v
- Czech: vysvětlit vt vysvětlovat
- Danish: forklare v
- Dutch: uitleggen vi
- Finnish: selittää v
- Greek: εξηγώ v
- Italian: spiegare v
- Japanese: 説明する v
- Korean: 설명하다 vi
- Norwegian: forklare v
- Polish: wyjaśnić vi wyjaśniać
- Brazilian Portuguese: explicar-se vi
- European Spanish:
explicar
v
- Swedish: förklara vi
- Thai: อธิบาย vi
- Turkish: açıklamak vi
- Vietnamese: giải thích v
Usage examples
She drifted into sleep listening to Tarja explain his plans for the men who waited for him in Testra.
, TREASON KEEP (2001)It's now down to the theorists to come up with ideas to explain this finding.
New Scientist (2003)We call the Garda and explain what happened and which direction the thugs are walking.
Irish Times (2002)Why so many Scottish painters, hailing themselves from the dreich Scottish climate, use such vivid colour is difficult to explain.
Glasgow Herald (2001)I have often tried and failed to explain to an extravert what I mean when I say `external reality becomes unreal'.
, BEYOND FEAR (2002)