plain

/plein/
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plain

A farmer drives a tractor across the vast open plain.

Definition

  1. Adjective:

    • Not decorated or elaborate; simple: "plain" describes something without ornamentation, patterns, or complexity.
    • Clear and easy to see or understand: "plain" means obvious, evident, or not hidden.
    • Not beautiful or attractive: "plain" can describe a person or thing that is ordinary or homely in appearance.
    • Straightforward and honest: "plain" describes speech or manner that is frank and direct.

  2. Adverb:

    • Clearly or simply: "plain" is used informally to mean "plainly" or "obviously."

  3. Noun:

    • A large area of flat land with few trees: "plain" refers to a broad, level geographic region.

  4. Verb (Archaic):

    • To complain or lament: An old or poetic use meaning to express sorrow or grievance.
Usage Examples

  • Adjective:

    • She wore a plain black dress to the meeting. (Simple, not decorated)
    • The instructions were plain and easy to follow. (Clear, easy to understand)
    • He made his disapproval plain to everyone. (Obvious, evident)
    • She is a plain speaker who always tells the truth. (Frank, direct)

  • Adverb:

    • You are plain wrong about that fact. (Clearly, obviously)

  • Noun:

    • Buffalo once roamed the vast North American plains. (Large flat lands)

  • Verb (Archaic):

    • The poet plaineth the loss of his love. (The poet laments the loss of his love.)
Advanced Usage

  • "in plain view": clearly visible, not hidden.

    • The keys were left in plain view on the table.

  • "plain and simple": used to emphasize that something is basic, straightforward, or uncomplicated.

    • The reason, plain and simple, is a lack of funding.

  • "to make oneself plain": to express oneself clearly and unambiguously.

    • Let me make myself plain: this behavior must stop.
Variants and Related Words

  • Plainly (adverb): in a clear or simple manner; obviously.

    • He spoke plainly about the challenges ahead.

  • Plainness (noun): the quality of being simple, clear, or unattractive.

    • The plainness of the room was calming.

  • Plains (noun, plural): multiple large flat land areas.

    • The Great Plains of the United States.
Synonyms
  • Adjective (Simple): simple, unadorned, basic, stark.
  • Adjective (Clear): clear, obvious, evident, apparent, manifest.
  • Adjective (Frank): frank, candid, blunt, straightforward.
  • Noun (Land): flatland, grassland, prairie, steppe.
Related Phrases and Idioms

  • "plain as day" or "plain as the nose on your face": extremely obvious.

    • His guilt was as plain as day.

  • "plain sailing": a situation that is easy and free from difficulties.

    • After we fixed the initial bug, the rest of the project was plain sailing.

  • "to be plain with someone": to speak honestly and directly to someone.

    • I'll be plain with you: your work has not been satisfactory.
plain

A farmer drives a tractor across the vast open plain.

Adjective
  1. lacking in physical beauty or proportion
    • a homely child
    • several of the buildings were downright homely
    • a plain girl with a freckled face
  2. lacking embellishment or ornamentation
    • a plain hair style
    • unembellished white walls
    • functional architecture featuring stark unornamented concrete
  3. free from any effort to soften to disguise
    • the plain and unvarnished truth
    • the unvarnished candor of old people and children
  4. not mixed with extraneous elements
    • plain water
    • sheer wine
    • not an unmixed blessing
  5. lacking patterns especially in color
  6. not elaborate or elaborated; simple
    • plain food
    • stuck to the plain facts
    • a plain blue suit
    • a plain rectangular brick building
  7. clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
    • the effects of the drought are apparent to anyone who sees the parched fields
    • evident hostility
    • manifest disapproval
    • patent advantages
    • made his meaning plain
    • it is plain that he is no reactionary
    • in plain view
Adverb
  1. unmistakably (`plain' is often used informally for `plainly')
    • the answer is obviously wrong
    • she was in bed and evidently in great pain
    • he was manifestly too important to leave off the guest list
    • it is all patently nonsense
    • she has apparently been living here for some time
    • I thought he owned the property, but apparently not
    • You are plainly wrong
    • he is plain stubborn
Noun
  1. a basic knitting stitch
  2. extensive tract of level open land
    • they emerged from the woods onto a vast open plain
    • he longed for the fields of his youth
Verb
  1. express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness
    • My mother complains all day
    • She has a lot to kick about

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