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1. Dictionary

   Plain

   /plān/

   

   adjective

   • 1. not decorated or elaborate; simple or ordinary in character: "good plain food" Similar simpleordinaryunadornedundecoratedunembellishedunornamentedunpretentiousunostentatiousunfussyhomelyhomespunbasicmodestunsophisticatedpenny plainwithout frillsstarkseverespartanausterechastebareunclutteredrestrainedmutedunpatternedpatternlesseverydayworkadayOpposite fancyelaborate
   • ▪ without a pattern; in only one color: "a plain fabric"
   • ▪ bearing no indication as to source, contents, or affiliation: "donations can be put in a plain envelope"
   • 2. (of a person) having no pretensions; not remarkable or special: "a plain, honest man with no nonsense about him" Similar straightforwardunpretentioussimpleordinaryaverageunassumingunaffectedhonest-to-goodnessingenuousartlessguilelesssincerecracker-barrelOpposite pretentiousaffected
   • ▪ (of a person) without a special title or status: "for years he was just plain Bill"
   • 3. easy to perceive or understand; clear: "the advantages were plain to see" Similar obviousclearcrystal clearas clear as crystalevidentapparentmanifestpatentvisiblediscernibleperceptibleperceivablenoticeabledetectablerecognizableobservableunmistakabletransparentpalpabledistinctpronouncedmarkedstrikingconspicuousovertself-evidentindisputableas plain as a pikestaffstaring someone in the facewrit largewritten all over someoneas plain as dayplain to seebeyond (a) doubtbeyond questioninformal:as plain as the nose on one's facestanding/sticking out like a sore thumbstanding/sticking out a mile
   • ▪ (of written or spoken usage) clearly expressed, without the use of technical or abstruse terms: "written in plain English" Similar intelligiblecomprehensibleunderstandablecoherentaccessibleuncomplicatedlucidperspicuousunambiguousclearsimplestraightforwardclearly expressedclear-cutdirectdigestibleuser-friendlyOpposite unclearobscure
   • ▪ not using concealment or deception; frank: "he recalled her plain speaking" Similar candidfrankoutspokenforthrightplain-spokendirecthonesttruthfulbluntdownrightunvarnishedbaldstraight from the shoulderexplicitunequivocalinformal:upfrontarchaic:roundfree-spoken
   • 4. (of a person) not beautiful or attractive: "the dark-haired, rather plain woman" Similar unattractiveunprepossessingas plain as a pikestaffuglyill-favoredunlovelyordinary-lookinghomelyinformal:not much to look atfuglyno oil paintinghuckeryOpposite attractivebeautifulgood-looking
   • 5. sheer; simple (used for emphasis): "the main problem is just plain exhaustion" Similar sheerpuredownrightout-and-outunmitigatedranknothing other than
   • 6. denoting or relating to a type of knitting stitch produced by putting the needle through the front of each stitch from left to right.

   adverb

   • 1. clearly; unequivocally (used for emphasis): informal "perhaps the youth was just plain stupid"

   noun

   • 1. a large area of flat land with few trees: "the coastal plain"
   • ▪ another term for Great Plains

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French plain, from Latin planus, from a base meaning ‘flat’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. plainness noun

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • P

     3

   • L

     1

   • A

     1

   • I

     1

   • N

     1

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2. People also ask

   What is the meaning of plain?

   • clear or distinct to the eye or ear: to stand in plain view. to stand in plain view. to make one's meaning plain. plain talk. plain stupidity. the plain truth of the matter. plain people. a plain face. without intricacies or difficulties. Although she was a duchess, her manners were attractively plain. a plain blue suit. a plain fabric.

   PLAIN Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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   What is a plain fact?

   • The plain fact is that nobody really knows. [only before noun] used to emphasize that something is very ordinary, not special in any way synonym everyday You don't need any special skills for this job, just plain common sense. The situation thrives on half-truths and plain ignorance. (especially of a woman) not beautiful or attractive

   plain adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes

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   What is a plain adjective?

   • Definition of plain adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary not decorated or complicated; simple The interior of the church was plain and simple. without marks or a pattern on it Write on plain paper (= without lines). easy to see or understand synonym clear He made it plain that we should leave. She made her annoyance plain.

   plain adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/plain_1

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   What does plain mean in a sentence?

   • The word of the law shall be fulfilled without a lie, and wisdom shall be made plain in the mouth of the faithful. Here there is no question of emergency, or enemy pressure, or of haste; so much we see plain enough with our own eyes. Plain definition: clear or distinct to the eye or ear. See examples of PLAIN used in a sentence.

   PLAIN Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › plainPlain Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › plain

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   Learn the various meanings and uses of the word plain as an adjective, noun, adverb, and verb. Find synonyms, antonyms, examples, etymology, and related phrases of plain.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › plainPLAIN Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › plain

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   Plain definition: clear or distinct to the eye or ear. See examples of PLAIN used in a sentence.

5. Videos

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     Plains Lesson for Kids: Definition & Facts

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     What is 'Plain' in Geography: How Plain forms

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6. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishPLAIN | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   Learn the meaning of plain as an adjective, noun, and adverb in English. Find out how to use plain to describe something simple, clear, unattractive, or flat.

7. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › plainPlain - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › plain

   Definitions of plain. adjective. not elaborate or elaborated; simple. “ plain food” “stuck to the plain facts” “a plain blue suit” “a plain rectangular brick building” synonyms: unadorned, undecorated. not decorated with something to increase its beauty or distinction. austere, severe, stark, stern. severely simple. bare, mere, simple.

8. www.thefreedictionary.com › plainPlain - definition of plain by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › plain

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   Plain can be an adjective, noun, or adverb with different meanings, such as clear, simple, level, or honest. Learn how to use plain in sentences and find synonyms, antonyms, and related words.

9. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definitionplain adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definition

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   Learn the meaning, pronunciation, usage and synonyms of the adjective plain, which can mean simple, clear, honest, ordinary or unattractive. See examples, idioms and collocations with plain.

10. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishPLAIN definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

    www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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    2 days ago · Learn the meaning, pronunciation, and usage of the word 'plain' in different contexts. Find synonyms, antonyms, examples, and related words for 'plain' in British and American English.