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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

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

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › plain

   • Cached

   The meaning of PLAIN is lacking ornament : undecorated. How to use plain in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Plain.

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

   www.dictionary.com › browse › plain

   • Cached

   clear to the mind; evident, manifest, or obvious: to make one's meaning plain. Synonyms: transparent, patent, unequivocal, unambiguous, perspicuous, apparent, unmistakable, intelligible, understandable, lucid. Antonyms: obscure. conveying the meaning clearly and simply; easily understood: plain talk.

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

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   PLAIN definition: 1. not decorated in any way; with nothing added: 2. paper that has no lines on it: 3. obvious and…. Learn more.

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

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › plain

   If something is in plain view, it's out in the open with no obstructions. But usually we use plain as an adjective to describe unembellished, bare, or unimpressive things. A white room with just an old bed and a chair is pretty plain.

6. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryPLAIN | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   PLAIN meaning: 1. not decorated in any way; with nothing added: 2. paper that has no lines on it: 3. obvious and…. Learn more.

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

   www.thefreedictionary.com › plain

   • Cached

   plain. (plān) adj. plain·er, plain·est. 1. Free from obstructions; open; clear: in plain view. 2. Obvious to the perception or mind; evident: make one's intention plain. See Synonyms at apparent. 3. a. Not elaborate or complicated; simple: plain food. b. Marked by little or no ornamentation or decoration: plain garb.

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

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definition

   • Cached

   Definition of plain adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

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

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   A plain object, surface, or fabric is entirely in one colour and has no pattern, design, or writing on it. In general, a plain carpet makes a room look bigger. He placed the paper in a plain envelope.

10. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryPLAIN | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

    dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

    • Cached

    PLAIN meaning: 1. simple and not complicated: 2. not mixed with other colours, substances, etc: 3. A plain…. Learn more.

11. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › american_englishplain adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › american_english

    • Cached

    plain. These words all describe something that is easy to see or understand and leaves no doubts or confusion. clear easy to see or understand and leaving no doubts: Her instructions were very clear. obvious easy to see or understand: I don't understand how you missed such an obvious error.