PLAIN


Meaning of PLAIN in English

plain 1

— plainly , adv. — plainness , n.

/playn/ , adj., plainer, plainest , adv., n. adj.

1. clear or distinct to the eye or ear: a plain trail to the river; to stand in plain view.

2. clear to the mind; evident, manifest, or obvious: to make one's meaning plain.

3. conveying the meaning clearly and simply; easily understood: plain talk.

4. downright; sheer; utter; self-evident: plain folly; plain stupidity.

5. free from ambiguity or evasion; candid; outspoken: the plain truth of the matter.

6. without special pretensions, superiority, elegance, etc.; ordinary: plain people.

7. not beautiful; physically unattractive or undistinguished: a plain face.

8. without intricacies or difficulties.

9. ordinary, simple, or unostentatious: Although she was a duchess, her manners were attractively plain.

10. with little or no embellishment, decoration, or enhancing elaboration: a plain blue suit.

11. without a pattern, figure, or device: a plain fabric.

12. not rich, highly seasoned, or elaborately prepared, as food: a plain diet.

13. flat or level: plain country.

14. unobstructed, clear, or open, as ground, a space, etc.

15. Cards. being other than a face card or a trump.

adv.

16. clearly and simply: He's just plain stupid.

n.

17. an area of land not significantly higher than adjacent areas and with relatively minor differences in elevation, commonly less than 500 ft. (150 m), within the area.

18. The Plains . See Great Plains .

[ 1250-1300; ME (adj., adv., and n.) planus flat, level, planum flat country ]

Syn. 1, 2. lucid, understandable, intelligible, unmistakable, apparent, perspicuous. 2. 3. unambiguous, unequivocal, patent, transparent; direct. 5. unreserved, straightforward, blunt, frank, ingenuous, open, sincere. 6. unpretentious. 10. unadorned. See homely .

Ant. 1. indistinct. 2. obscure. 13. hilly.

plain 2

/playn/ , v.i. Brit. Dial.

to complain.

[ 1250-1300; ME plei ( g ) nen plaign-, s. of plaindre plangere to beat (the breast, etc.), lament; akin to Gk pléssein to strike ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .