/ek'spleuh nay"sheuhn/ , n.
1. the act or process of explaining.
2. something that explains; a statement made to clarify something and make it understandable; exposition: an explanation of a poem.
3. a meaning or interpretation: to find an explanation for a mystery.
4. a mutual declaration of the meaning of words spoken, actions, motives, etc., with a view to adjusting a misunderstanding or reconciling differences: After a long and emotional explanation they were friends again.
[ 1350-1400; ME explanacioun explanation- (s. of explanatio ), equiv. to explanat ( us ) (see EXPLANATE) + -ion- -ION ]
Syn. 1. elucidation, explication, exposition, interpretation, description. 3. solution, key, answer.