Question 1 · Quick check
explain
CEFRA1
/ɪkˈspleɪn/
verb
Türkçe translations
Translating…
In plain English
- 01
verb
To make an idea or situation clear to someone.
- 02
verb
Extra detailTo give the reason for, justification for, or cause of.
Examples
He was trying to explain the difference between hip hop and rap.
It would take forever for me to explain everything.
At a glance
Sits at A1 on the CEFR scale
- Senses
- 5
- Parts of speech
- 1
- Citations
- 5
- Synonyms
- 5
Also pronounced
- /ɛksˈplen/
- /ɛksˈplɛjn/
Deep Dive
verb
Extra meaningsTo make flat, smooth out.
To make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity; to illustrate the meaning of.
To unfold or make visible.
More examples
In contextI can't explain it either.
She tried to explain but he wouldn’t listen.
The issue was explained to the governor in detail.
Related
Quick test
Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.
Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.
Nearby
Origin
verb
From Middle English explanen, from Old French explaner, from Latin explanō (“to flatten, spread out, make plain or clear, explain”), from ex- (“out”) + planō (“to flatten, make level”), from planus (“level, plain”); see plain and plane. Compare esplanade, splanade. Displaced Old English reċċan.