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plain [ plain ]

[
US
pleɪn ]
[
UK
pleɪn ]
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Adjective

1. Not decorated or elaborate; simple or basic in character.

everyone dined at a plain wooden table

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2. Without a pattern; in only one colour.

Sport it with a gray suit and plain white or patterned shirt.

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3. (of paper) without lines.

Cover the work surface with plain newsprint or a drop cloth.

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4. Bearing no indication as to contents or affiliation.

donations can be put in a plain envelope

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5. Having no pretensions; not remarkable or special.

Meanwhile, plain folks toss around the word with abandon.

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6. (of a person) without a special title or status.

For the most part, she just called him plain Jack.

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7. Easy to perceive or understand; clear.

He draws an awful lot of fire, that's plain to see.

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8. (of written or spoken usage) clearly expressed, without the use of technical or abstruse terms.

an insurance policy written in plain English

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9. Not using concealment or deception; frank.

Nothing is more artificial than plain speaking.

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10. (of a person) not beautiful or attractive.

He was a plain man of medium height and build.

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11. Sheer; simple (used for emphasis)

the main problem is just plain exhaustion

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12. Denoting or relating to a type of knitting stitch produced by putting the needle through the front of each stitch from left to right.

She offered a more varied needlework curriculum of plain work, marking, openwork, and embroidery along with reading and writing.

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Adverb

1. Used for emphasis.

perhaps the youth was just plain stupid

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2. Clearly or unequivocally.

I'm finished with you, I'll tell you plain

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Noun

1. A large area of flat land with few trees.

With these they are able to dramatise plains, prairies, steppes and meadows.

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Origin

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

Verb

1. Mourn or lament.

'Oh, Rover, don't you leave me, too, ' she plained out.

2. Complain.

When she was entertained she plained about her new-found fame.

3. Emit a mournful or plaintive sound.

She plained of love; she longed for wings.

Origin

1. Middle English from Old French plaindre, from Latin plangere ‘to lament’.

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