(~er, ~est, ~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ object, surface, or fabric is entirely in one colour and has no pattern, design, or writing on it.
In general, a ~ carpet makes a room look bigger...
He wore a ~ blue shirt, open at the collar.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
2.
Something that is ~ is very simple in style.
Bronwen’s dress was ~ but it hung well on her...
? fancy, elaborate
ADJ
~ly
He was very tall and ~ly dressed.
ADV: ADV -ed
3.
If a fact, situation, or statement is ~, it is easy to recognize or understand.
It was ~ to him that I was having a nervous breakdown...
He’s made it ~ that he loves the game and wants to be involved still.
= clear
ADJ: usu v-link ADJ, oft it v-link ADJ that
see also ~-spoken
4.
If you describe someone as ~, you think they look ordinary and not at all beautiful.
...a shy, rather ~ girl with a pale complexion.
ADJ
5.
A ~ is a large flat area of land with very few trees on it.
Once there were 70 million buffalo on the ~s.
N-COUNT
6.
You can use ~ before an adjective in order to emphasize it.
The food was just ~ terrible.
ADV: ADV adj emphasis
•
Plain is also used before a noun.
Is it love of publicity or ~ stupidity on her part?
ADJ: ADJ n
7.
If a police officer is in ~ clothes, he or she is wearing ordinary clothes instead of a police uniform.
Three officers in ~ clothes told me to get out of the car.
~ sailing: see sailing
PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v