ENGLISH
REFERENCE

explain

v.
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ɪksˈpɫeɪn// UK //ɛksplˈeɪn// ex·plain Archaic General-service

v. to make something clear or easy to understand by giving more details about it. It can also mean giving a reason for why something happened.

v. to make an idea, situation, or problem clear to someone by describing it in more detail or revealing relevant facts


SIMPLE

Can you explain how this coffee machine works?

CONTEXTUAL

The teacher asked the student to explain why his homework was three days late.

COMPLEX

The physicist attempted to explain the principles of quantum mechanics using everyday analogies, though some of the mathematical nuance was inevitably lost in translation.

Synonyms
Origin

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.

Usage

The verb is transitive and frequently takes a that-clause or a wh-clause as its object

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