PLAIN


Meaning of PLAIN in English

1.adj., adv., & n.

--adj.

1. clear; evident (is plain to see).

2 readily understood; simple (in plain words).

3 a (of food, sewing, decoration, etc.) uncomplicated; not elaborate; unembellished; simple. b without a decorative pattern.

4 (esp. of a woman or girl) ugly.

5 outspoken; straightforward.

6 (of manners, dress, etc.) unsophisticated; homely (a plain man).

7 (of drawings etc.) not coloured (penny plain, twopence coloured).

8 not in code.

--adv.

1. clearly; unequivocally (to speak plain, I don't approve).

2 simply (that is plain stupid).

--n.

1. a level tract of esp. treeless country.

2 a basic knitting stitch made by putting the needle through the back of the stitch and passing the wool round the front of the needle (opp. PURL(1)).

Phrases and idioms:

be plain with speak bluntly to. plain card neither a trump nor a court-card. plain chocolate dark chocolate without added milk. plain clothes ordinary clothes worn esp. as a disguise by policemen etc. plain-clothes (attrib.) wearing plain clothes. plain cook a person competent in plain English cooking. plain dealing candour; straightforwardness. plain sailing

1. sailing a straightforward course.

2 an uncomplicated situation or course of action. plain service Eccl. a church service without music. plain-spoken outspoken; blunt. plain suit a suit that is not trumps. plain text a text not in cipher or code. plain time time not paid for at overtime rates. plain weaving weaving with the weft alternately over and under the warp.

Derivatives:

plainly adv. plainness n.

Etymology: ME f. OF plain (adj. & n.) f. L planus (adj.), planum (n.) 2. v.intr. archaic or poet.

1. mourn.

2 complain.

3 make a plaintive sound.

Etymology: ME f. OF plaindre (stem plaign-) f. L plangere planct- lament

Oxford English vocab.      Оксфордский английский словарь.