explain
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ex·plain
(ĭk-splān′)v. ex·plained, ex·plain·ing, ex·plains
v.tr.
1. To make plain or comprehensible.
2. To define; expound: We explained our plan to the committee.
3.
a. To offer reasons for or a cause of; justify: explain an error.
b. To offer reasons for the actions, beliefs, or remarks of (oneself).
v.intr.
Phrasal Verb: To make something plain or comprehensible: Let me explain.
explain away
To dismiss or minimize the significance of (something) by means of an explanation or excuse: There is no way to explain away my carelessness.
[Middle English explanen, from Latin explānāre : ex-, intensive pref.; see ex- + plānus, clear; see pelə- in Indo-European roots.]
ex·plain′a·ble adj.
Synonyms: explain, elucidate, explicate, interpret, construe
These verbs mean to make the nature or meaning of something understandable. Explain is the most widely applicable: The professor used a diagram to explain the theory of continental drift. The manual explained how the new software worked. To elucidate is to throw light on something complex: "Man's whole life and environment have been laid open and elucidated" (Thomas Carlyle).
Explicate implies detailed and usually learned and lengthy exploration or analysis: "Ordinary language philosophers tried to explicate the standards of usage" (Jerrold J. Katz).
To interpret is to reveal the underlying meaning of something by the application of special knowledge or insight: "A radiologist can interpret images made in Saudi Arabia and beamed to Boston, sending back a diagnosis within hours" (Richard Saltus).
Construe involves putting a particular construction or interpretation on something: "I take the official oath today ... with no purpose to construe the Constitution or laws by any hypercritical rules" (Abraham Lincoln).
These verbs mean to make the nature or meaning of something understandable. Explain is the most widely applicable: The professor used a diagram to explain the theory of continental drift. The manual explained how the new software worked. To elucidate is to throw light on something complex: "Man's whole life and environment have been laid open and elucidated" (Thomas Carlyle).
Explicate implies detailed and usually learned and lengthy exploration or analysis: "Ordinary language philosophers tried to explicate the standards of usage" (Jerrold J. Katz).
To interpret is to reveal the underlying meaning of something by the application of special knowledge or insight: "A radiologist can interpret images made in Saudi Arabia and beamed to Boston, sending back a diagnosis within hours" (Richard Saltus).
Construe involves putting a particular construction or interpretation on something: "I take the official oath today ... with no purpose to construe the Constitution or laws by any hypercritical rules" (Abraham Lincoln).
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
explain
(ɪkˈspleɪn)vb
1. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to make (something) comprehensible, esp by giving a clear and detailed account of the relevant structure, operation, surrounding circumstances, etc
2. (tr) to justify or attempt to justify (oneself) by giving reasons for one's actions or words
[C15: from Latin explānāre to flatten, from plānus level]
exˈplainable adj
exˈplainer n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ex•plain
(ɪkˈspleɪn)v.t.
1. to make clear or intelligible.
2. to make known in detail.
3. to make clear the cause or reason of; account for: I cannot explain his strange behavior.
v.i. 4. to give an explanation.
5. explain away, to diminish the significance of through explanation; justify.
ex•plain′a•ble, adj.
ex•plain′er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
explain
If you explain something, you give details about it so that it can be understood.
The head teacher should be able to explain the school's teaching policy.
You say that you explain something to someone.
Let me explain to you about Jackie.
We explained everything to the police.
Be Careful!
You must use to in sentences like these. Don't say, for example, 'Let me explain you about Jackie'.
You can use explain with a that-clause to say that someone tells someone else the reason for something.
I explained that I was trying to write a book.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
explain
Past participle: explained
Gerund: explaining
| Imperative |
|---|
| explain |
| explain |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. |  explain - make plain and comprehensible; "He explained the laws of physics to his students"inform - impart knowledge of some fact, state or affairs, or event to; "I informed him of his rights" account for - give reasons for; "Can you account for all these absences?" naturalize - explain with reference to nature clarify, clear up, elucidate - make clear and (more) comprehensible; "clarify the mystery surrounding her death" comment - explain or interpret something |
| 2. | explain - define; "The committee explained their plan for fund-raising to the Dean" | |
| 3. | explain - serve as a reason or cause or justification of; "Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at work"; "Her recent divorce may explain her reluctance to date again" alibi - exonerate by means of an alibi |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
explain
verb
1. make clear or plain, describe, demonstrate, illustrate, teach, define, solve, resolve, interpret, disclose, unfold, clarify, clear up, simplify, expound, elucidate, put into words, throw light on, explicate (formal), give the details of He explained the process to us in simple terms.
2. account for, excuse, justify, give a reason for, give an explanation for Can you explain why you didn't telephone me?
Quotations
"Never explain - your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway" [Elbert Hubbard The Motto Book]
"Never explain - your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway" [Elbert Hubbard The Motto Book]
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
explain
verb1. To make understandable:
Archaic: enucleate.
Idiom: put into plain English.
2. To find a solution for:
Informal: dope out, figure out.
Idiom: get to the bottom of.
3. To offer reasons for or a cause of:
explain away
To conceal or make light of a fault or offense:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
شرحشَرَح، فَسَّريَشْرَحُيُفَسِّر، يُعْطي السَّبب
explicar
vysvětlit
forklarebegrunde
selittää
objasniti
gefa skÿringu áútskÿra
説明する
설명하다
aiškinamasis
izskaidrotpaskaidrot
explica
pojasniti
förklara
อธิบาย
пояснити
giải thích
explain
[ɪksˈpleɪn]A. VT (= make clear) [+ meaning, problem] → explicar; [+ plan] → explicar, exponer; [+ mystery] → explicar, aclarar; (= account for) [+ conduct] → explicar, justificar
I explained it to him → se lo expliqué
that explains it → eso lo explica, con eso queda todo aclarado
to explain o.s (clearly) → explicarse; (morally) → justificarse, defenderse
kindly explain yourself! → ¡explíquese Vd!
I explained it to him → se lo expliqué
that explains it → eso lo explica, con eso queda todo aclarado
to explain o.s (clearly) → explicarse; (morally) → justificarse, defenderse
kindly explain yourself! → ¡explíquese Vd!
B. VI will you call him and explain? → ¿le llamas tú y se lo explicas?
I tried to explain, but → intenté explicárselo, pero ...
I tried to explain, but → intenté explicárselo, pero ...
explain away VT + ADV → dar explicaciones (convincentes) de, justificar; (= excuse) → disculpar
try and explain that away! → ¡a ver cómo justificas eso!
try and explain that away! → ¡a ver cómo justificas eso!
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
explain
[ɪkˈspleɪn] vt → expliquerto explain why → expliquer pourquoi
to explain how → expliquer comment
to explain sth to sb → expliquer qch à qn
to explain that ... → expliquer que ...
explain away
vt [+ mistake, failure, evidence] → trouver de bonnes explications àCollins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
explain
vt → erklären (to sb jdm); motives, situation, thoughts → erläutern, erklären; mystery → aufklären; it’s all right, I can explain everything → schon gut, ich kann das alles erklären; that is easy to explain, that is easily explained → das lässt sich leicht erklären; he wanted to see me but wouldn’t explain why → er wollte mich sehen, sagte aber nicht, warum or aus welchem Grunde; so that explains why he didn’t react → ach, das erklärt, warum er nicht reagiert hat
vr (= justify) → sich rechtfertigen; he’d better explain himself → ich hoffe, er kann das erklären; I think you’d better start explaining yourself → was hast du zu deiner Entschuldigung zu sagen?; explain yourself! → was soll das?, kannst du das erklären?
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
explain
[ɪksˈpleɪn] vt (gen) → spiegare; (mystery) → chiarireto explain o.s. → spiegarsi
explain away vt → cercare di dare una motivazione a
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
explain
(ikˈsplein) verb1. to make (something) clear or easy to understand. Can you explain the railway timetable to me?; Did she explain why she was late?
2. to give, or be, a reason for. I cannot explain his failure; That explains his silence.
explanation (ekspləˈneiʃən) noun1. the act or process of explaining. Let me give a few words of explanation.
2. a statement or fact that explains. There are several possible explanations for the explosion.
exˈplanatory (-ˈsplӕnə-) adjective giving an explanation. There are explanatory notes in this book.
explain away to get rid of (difficulties etc) by clever explaining. She could not explain away the missing money.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
explain
→ يَشْرَحُ vysvětlit forklare erklären εξηγώ explicar selittää expliquer objasniti spiegare 説明する 설명하다 uitleggen forklare wyjaśnić explicar, explicar-se объяснять förklara อธิบาย açıklamak giải thích 解释Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
explain
vt. explicar, aclarar;
___ the procedure → explique el procedimiento.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
Collins Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009