explain

Pronunciation: /ɪkˈspleɪn/

The English word “explain” has 5 meanings listed here.

verb

To make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity; to illustrate the meaning of.
To give the reason for, justification for, or cause of.
To make flat, smooth out.
To unfold or make visible.
To make something plain or intelligible.

Etymology

From Middle English explanen, from Old French explaner, from Latin explanō (“to flatten, spread out, make plain or clear, explain”), from ex- (“out”) + planō (“to flatten, make level”), from planus (“level, plain”); see plain and plane. Compare esplanade, splanade. Displaced Old English reċċan.

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.