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   plain

   /pleɪn/

   adjective

   • 1. not decorated or elaborate; simple or basic in character: "good plain food" Similar simpleordinaryunadornedundecoratedunembellishedunornamentedunpretentiousunostentatiousunfussyhomelyhomespunbasicmodestunsophisticatedpenny plainwithout frillsstarkseverespartanausterechastebareunclutteredrestrainedmutedunpatternedpatternlesseverydayworkadayOpposite fancyelaborate
   • ▪ without a pattern; in only one colour: "a plain fabric"
   • ▪ (of paper) without lines.
   • ▪ bearing no indication as to contents or affiliation: "donations can be put in a plain envelope"
   • 2. 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: "an insurance policy written in plain English" Similar intelligiblecomprehensibleunderstandablecoherentaccessibleuncomplicatedlucidperspicuousunambiguousclearsimplestraightforwardclearly expressedclear-cutdirectdigestibleuser-friendlyOpposite unclearobscure
   • ▪ not using concealment or deception; frank: "there were indrawn breaths at such plain speaking" Similar candidfrankoutspokenforthrightplain-spokendirecthonesttruthfulbluntdownrightunvarnishedbaldstraight from the shoulderexplicitunequivocalinformal:upfrontarchaic:roundfree-spoken
   • 4. (of a person) not beautiful or attractive: "a plain, round-faced woman" Similar unattractiveunprepossessingas plain as a pikestaffuglyill-favouredunlovelyordinary-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. used for emphasis: "perhaps the youth was just plain stupid"
   • 2. clearly or unequivocally: "I'm finished with you, I'll tell you plain"

   noun

   • 1. a large area of flat land with few trees: "the coastal plain"

   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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   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

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

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › plain

   • Cached

   1. : lacking ornament : undecorated. 2. : free of extraneous matter : pure. 3. : free of impediments to view : unobstructed. 4. a (1) : evident to the mind or senses : obvious. it's perfectly plain that they will resist. (2) : clear. let me make my meaning plain. b. : marked by outspoken candor : free from duplicity or subtlety : blunt. plain talk.

3. 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.

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

   www.dictionary.com › browse › plain

   • Cached

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

5. 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.

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

   www.thefreedictionary.com › plain

   • Cached

   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. c. Straightforward; frank or candid: plain talk. d.

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

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › 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.

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.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › plainplain | meaning of plain in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary...

   www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › plain

   • Cached

   plain meaning, definition, what is plain: very clear, and easy to understand or re...: Learn more.

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.yourdictionary.com › plainPlain Definition & Meaning | YourDictionary

    www.yourdictionary.com › plain

    • Cached

    Clearly understood; evident; obvious. To make one's meaning plain. Webster's New World. Similar definitions. Marked by little or no ornamentation or decoration. Plain garb. American Heritage. Outspoken; frank; straightforward. Plain talk. Webster's New World. Similar definitions. Downright; thoroughgoing. Plain nonsense. Webster's New World.