plain


Definition: Meaning of, plain in English to English dictionary.

Pronunciation: / pleɪn /

  • adjective
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Word Forms:
Positive Comparative Superlative
plain plainer plainest
  1. clear very clear, and easy to understand or recognize [=  obvious]
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  2. in plain English/language in clear and simple words, without using technical language
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  3. simple without anything added or without decoration [=  simple]
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  4. honest showing clearly and honestly what is true or what you think about something [=  frank, candid]
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  5. emphasis [only before noun] spoken used to emphasize that a particular type of behaviour, attitude etc is involved, usually a bad one
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  6. not beautiful not beautiful or attractive - often used because you want to avoid saying this directly
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  7. in plain clothes police officers in plain clothes are not wearing uniform
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  8. (just) plain Mr/Mrs etc spoken used to show that someone does not have or use a special title
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  9. be plain sailing to be very easy to do or achieve
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  10. in plain sight American English if something is in plain sight, it is easy to see or notice, especially when it should be hidden
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  • noun
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Word Forms:
Singular Plural
plain plains
  1. also plains [countable] a large area of flat dry land [↪  prairie]
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  2. [uncountable] the ordinary stitch in KNITTING
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  • adverb
  • synonym
  • antonym
Word Forms:
Positive Comparative Superlative
plain plainer plainest
  1. informal used to emphasize an adjective, usually one referring to a bad quality
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plain used in phrases

  • Nullarbor Plain (noun)
    1. a vast arid plain of southern Australia stretching inland from the Great Australian Bight; has sparse vegetation and no surface water and is almost uninhabited; the site of a major rocket research centre
  • Salisbury Plain
    1. a large piece of open country in southern England, used by the army as a training area. STONEHENGE, a structure of stone circles from 2500-1500 BC, is on Salisbury Plain.
  • Serengeti Plain (noun)
    1. a vast plain in Tanzania to the west of the Great Rift Valley known for its wildlife
  • alluvial plain (noun)
    1. a flat resulting from repeated deposits of alluvial material by running water
  • coastal plain (noun)
    1. a plain adjacent to a coast
  • flood plain (noun)
    1. the large area of flat land on either side of a river that is sometimes covered with water when the river becomes too full
  • plain chocolate (noun)
    1. British English chocolate made without milk and with very little sugar [=  dark chocolate]
  • plain clothes (noun)
    1. ordinary clothing as distinguished from uniforms, work clothes, clerical garb, etc.
  • plain flour (noun)
    1. British English flour that contains no BAKING POWDER [↪  self-raising flour]
  • plain sailing (noun)
    1. easy unobstructed progress
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