simple (ˈsɪmpəll
)
Definitions
adjective
- not involved or complicated; easy to understand or do ⇒
a simple problem
- plain; unadorned ⇒
a simple dress
- consisting of one element or part only; not combined or complex ⇒
a simple mechanism
- unaffected or unpretentious ⇒
although he became famous, he remained a simple and well-liked man
- not guileful; sincere; frank ⇒
her simple explanation was readily accepted
- of humble condition or rank ⇒
the peasant was of simple birth
- weak in intelligence; feeble-minded
- (prenominal) without additions or modifications; mere ⇒
the witness told the simple truth
- (prenomina) ordinary or straightforward ⇒
a simple case of mumps
- chemistry (of a substance or material) consisting of only one chemical compound rather than a mixture of compounds
- mathematics
- (of a fraction) containing only integers
- (of an equation) containing variables to the first power only; linear
- (of a root of an equation) occurring only once; not multiple
- biology
- not divided into parts ⇒
a simple leaf
a simple eye
- formed from only one ovary ⇒
simple fruit
- not divided into parts ⇒
- music relating to or denoting a time where the number of beats per bar may be two, three, or four
noun
archaic- a simpleton; fool
- a plant, esp a herbaceous plant, having medicinal properties
Alternative Forms
ˈsimpleness nounWord Origin
C13: via Old French from Latin simplex plainSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
uncomplicated,
clear,
plain,
understandable,
coherent,
lucid,
recognizable,
unambiguous,
comprehensible,
intelligible,
uninvolved,
=
easy,
straightforward,
not difficult
light,
elementary,
manageable,
effortless,
painless,
uncomplicated,
undemanding,
easy-peasy,
=
plain,
natural,
basic,
classic,
severe,
Spartan,
uncluttered,
unadorned,
unfussy,
unembellished
bare-bones,
Translations
- British English:
simple
If something is simple, it is not complicated, and is therefore easy to understand or do....simple pictures and diagrams.ˈsɪmpl ADJECTIVE ...simple pictures and diagrams.
- Spanish:
simple
adj
- French:
simple
adj
- German:
einfach
adj
- Chinese: 简单的 adj
- Arabic: بَسِيط adj
- Portuguese: simples adj
- Russian: простой adj простая
- Croatian: jednostavan adj jednostavna
- Czech: jednoduchý adj
- Danish: simpel adj
- Dutch: eenvoudig adj
- Finnish: yksinkertainen adj
- Greek: απλός adj απλή
- Italian: semplice adj
- Japanese: 簡単な no_posp
- Korean: 단순한 adj
- Norwegian: enkel adj
- Polish: prosty adj prosta
- Brazilian Portuguese: simples adj
- European Spanish:
simple
adj
- Swedish: enkel adj enkelt
- Thai: ง่าย adj
- Turkish: basit adj
- Vietnamese: dễ hiểu adj
Usage examples
In his world -- the real world -- complicated things can be made simple.
, CHAMELEON (2002)Products are not clearly branded or branded in a simple , facile way.
Irish Times (2002)Today, enthusiasts of this craft create a multitude of shapes from the simple to the curiously elaborate.
Glasgow Herald (2001)However, using praise effectively to encourage a child to behave well is not simple.
, BEYOND FEAR (2002)