First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1plain
verb \ˈplān\
Definition of PLAIN
intransitive verb
archaic : complain
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Origin of PLAIN
Middle English, from Anglo-French pleindre, plaindre, from Latin plangere to lament — more at plaint
Rhymes with PLAIN
ain, Aisne, ane, Bain, bane, blain, brain, cane, chain, crane, deign, drain, fain, fane, feign, gain, grain, Kane, lane, Lane, main, mane, pain, Paine, pane, plane, quean, rain, reign, rein, sain, sane, seine, Seine, skein, Spain, sprain, stain, strain, swain, thane, thegn, train, twain, Twain, vain, vane, vein, wain, wane, Wayne
2plain
noun
: a large area of flat land without trees
Full Definition of PLAIN
1
a : an extensive area of level or rolling treeless country b : a broad unbroken expanse
2
: something free from artifice, ornament, or extraneous matter
See plain defined for English-language learners
See plain defined for kids
Origin of PLAIN
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin planum, from neuter of planus flat, plain — more at floor
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to PLAIN
Other Geology Terms
3plain
adjective
: having no pattern or decoration
: not having any added or extra things
: easy to see or understand
Full Definition of PLAIN
2
: lacking ornament : undecorated
3
: free of extraneous matter : pure
4
: free of impediments to view : unobstructed
5
7
: characterized by simplicity : not complicated <plain home-cooked meals>
8
: lacking beauty or ugliness
— plain·ly adverb
— plain·ness \ˈplān-nəs\ noun
See plain defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PLAIN
14th century
Related to PLAIN
- Synonyms
- bald, bare, naked, plain-vanilla, simple, unadorned, undecorated, unembellished, unornamented, unvarnished
- Antonyms
- adorned, decorated, embellished, fancy, ornamented
Synonym Discussion of PLAIN
common, ordinary, plain, familiar, popular, vulgar mean generally met with and not in any way special, strange, or unusual. common implies usual everyday quality or frequency of occurrence <a common error> <lacked common honesty> and may additionally suggest inferiority or coarseness <common manners>. ordinary stresses conformance in quality or kind with the regular order of things <an ordinary pleasant summer day> <a very ordinary sort of man>. plain is likely to suggest homely simplicity <plain hard-working people>. familiar stresses the fact of being generally known and easily recognized <a familiar melody>. popular applies to what is accepted by or prevalent among people in general sometimes in contrast to upper classes or special groups <a writer of popular romances>. vulgar, otherwise similar to popular, is likely to carry derogatory connotations (as of inferiority or coarseness) <souvenirs designed to appeal to the vulgar taste>.
evident, manifest, patent, distinct, obvious, apparent, plain, clear mean readily perceived or apprehended. evident implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion <an evident fondness for sweets>. manifest implies an external display so evident that little or no inference is required <manifest hostility>. patent applies to a cause, effect, or significant feature that is clear and unmistakable once attention has been directed to it <patent defects>. distinct implies such sharpness of outline or definition that no unusual effort to see or hear or comprehend is required <a distinct refusal>. obvious implies such ease in discovering that it often suggests conspicuousness or little need for perspicacity in the observer <the obvious solution>. apparent is very close to evident except that it may imply more conscious exercise of inference <for no apparent reason>. plain suggests lack of intricacy, complexity, or elaboration <her feelings about him are plain>. clear implies an absence of anything that confuses the mind or obscures the pattern <a clear explanation>.
frank, candid, open, plain mean showing willingness to tell what one feels or thinks. frank stresses lack of shyness or secretiveness or of evasiveness from considerations of tact or expedience <frank discussions>. candid suggests expression marked by sincerity and honesty especially in offering unwelcome criticism or opinion <a candid appraisal>. open implies frankness but suggests more indiscretion than frank and less earnestness than candid <open in saying what they think>. plain suggests outspokenness and freedom from affectation or subtlety in expression <plain talk>.
evident, manifest, patent, distinct, obvious, apparent, plain, clear mean readily perceived or apprehended. evident implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion <an evident fondness for sweets>. manifest implies an external display so evident that little or no inference is required <manifest hostility>. patent applies to a cause, effect, or significant feature that is clear and unmistakable once attention has been directed to it <patent defects>. distinct implies such sharpness of outline or definition that no unusual effort to see or hear or comprehend is required <a distinct refusal>. obvious implies such ease in discovering that it often suggests conspicuousness or little need for perspicacity in the observer <the obvious solution>. apparent is very close to evident except that it may imply more conscious exercise of inference <for no apparent reason>. plain suggests lack of intricacy, complexity, or elaboration <her feelings about him are plain>. clear implies an absence of anything that confuses the mind or obscures the pattern <a clear explanation>.
frank, candid, open, plain mean showing willingness to tell what one feels or thinks. frank stresses lack of shyness or secretiveness or of evasiveness from considerations of tact or expedience <frank discussions>. candid suggests expression marked by sincerity and honesty especially in offering unwelcome criticism or opinion <a candid appraisal>. open implies frankness but suggests more indiscretion than frank and less earnestness than candid <open in saying what they think>. plain suggests outspokenness and freedom from affectation or subtlety in expression <plain talk>.
4plain
adverb
Definition of PLAIN
: in a plain manner : without obscurity or ambiguity <saw them clearly and told you plain — American Documentation>
First Known Use of PLAIN
14th century
5plain
adverb
Definition of PLAIN
: absolutely 1 <plain wrong>
Origin of PLAIN
partly from Middle English plein entire, complete, from Anglo-French, full, from Latin plenus; partly from 4plain — more at full
First Known Use: 1535
PLAINLY Defined for Kids
1plain
adjective \ˈplān\
plain·erplain·est
Definition of PLAIN for Kids
1
: having no pattern or decoration <a plain jacket>
2
: not handsome or beautiful
3
: not hard to do or understand <The lesson was explained in plain words.> <The directions were plain.>
4
: without anything having been added <He eats plain yogurt.>
5
: open and clear to the sight <I left my money in plain view.>
6
: frank <The judge is famous for her plain speaking.>
7
: of common or average accomplishments or position : ordinary <just plain folks>
— plain·ly adverb
— plain·ness noun
2plain
noun
Definition of PLAIN for Kids
: a large area of level or rolling treeless land
3plain
adverb
Definition of PLAIN for Kids
: without any question : to a complete degree <… she's just plain jealous when I'm at the piano and she's not. — Karen Hesse, Out of the Dust>
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