explain

ex·plain

E0287800 (ĭk-splān′)v. ex·plained, ex·plain·ing, ex·plains v.tr.1. To make plain or comprehensible.2. To define; expound: We explained our plan to the committee.3. a. To offer reasons for or a cause of; justify: explain an error.b. To offer reasons for the actions, beliefs, or remarks of (oneself).v.intr. To make something plain or comprehensible: Let me explain.Phrasal Verb: explain away To dismiss or minimize the significance of (something) by means of an explanation or excuse: There is no way to explain away my carelessness.

[Middle English explanen, from Latin explānāre : ex-, intensive pref.; see ex- + plānus, clear; see pelə- in Indo-European roots.]

ex·plain′a·ble adj.Synonyms: explain, elucidate, explicate, interpret, construe
These verbs mean to make the nature or meaning of something understandable. Explain is the most widely applicable: The professor used a diagram to explain the theory of continental drift. The manual explained how the new software worked. To elucidate is to throw light on something complex: "Man's whole life and environment have been laid open and elucidated" (Thomas Carlyle).
Explicate implies detailed and usually learned and lengthy exploration or analysis: "Ordinary language philosophers tried to explicate the standards of usage" (Jerrold J. Katz).
To interpret is to reveal the underlying meaning of something by the application of special knowledge or insight: "A radiologist can interpret images made in Saudi Arabia and beamed to Boston, sending back a diagnosis within hours" (Richard Saltus).
Construe involves putting a particular construction or interpretation on something: "I take the official oath today ... with no purpose to construe the Constitution or laws by any hypercritical rules" (Abraham Lincoln).

explain

(ɪkˈspleɪn) vb1. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to make (something) comprehensible, esp by giving a clear and detailed account of the relevant structure, operation, surrounding circumstances, etc2. (tr) to justify or attempt to justify (oneself) by giving reasons for one's actions or words[C15: from Latin explānāre to flatten, from plānus level] exˈplainable adj exˈplainer n

ex•plain

(ɪkˈspleɪn)

v.t. 1. to make clear or intelligible. 2. to make known in detail. 3. to make clear the cause or reason of; account for: I cannot explain his strange behavior. v.i. 4. to give an explanation. 5. explain away, to diminish the significance of through explanation; justify. [1375–1425; < Latin explānāre to smooth out, make intelligible. See ex-¹, plane²] ex•plain′a•ble, adj. ex•plain′er, n.

explain

If you explain something, you give details about it so that it can be understood.

The head teacher should be able to explain the school's teaching policy.

You say that you explain something to someone.

Let me explain to you about Jackie.We explained everything to the police.

Be Careful!
You must use to in sentences like these. Don't say, for example, 'Let me explain you about Jackie'.

You can use explain with a that-clause to say that someone tells someone else the reason for something.

I explained that I was trying to write a book.

explain

Past participle: explained
Gerund: explaining

Imperative
explain
explain

Present
I explain
you explain
he/she/it explains
we explain
you explain
they explain

Preterite
I explained
you explained
he/she/it explained
we explained
you explained
they explained

Present Continuous
I am explaining
you are explaining
he/she/it is explaining
we are explaining
you are explaining
they are explaining

Present Perfect
I have explained
you have explained
he/she/it has explained
we have explained
you have explained
they have explained

Past Continuous
I was explaining
you were explaining
he/she/it was explaining
we were explaining
you were explaining
they were explaining

Past Perfect
I had explained
you had explained
he/she/it had explained
we had explained
you had explained
they had explained

Future
I will explain
you will explain
he/she/it will explain
we will explain
you will explain
they will explain

Future Perfect
I will have explained
you will have explained
he/she/it will have explained
we will have explained
you will have explained
they will have explained

Future Continuous
I will be explaining
you will be explaining
he/she/it will be explaining
we will be explaining
you will be explaining
they will be explaining

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been explaining
you have been explaining
he/she/it has been explaining
we have been explaining
you have been explaining
they have been explaining

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been explaining
you will have been explaining
he/she/it will have been explaining
we will have been explaining
you will have been explaining
they will have been explaining

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been explaining
you had been explaining
he/she/it had been explaining
we had been explaining
you had been explaining
they had been explaining

Conditional
I would explain
you would explain
he/she/it would explain
we would explain
you would explain
they would explain

Past Conditional
I would have explained
you would have explained
he/she/it would have explained
we would have explained
you would have explained
they would have explained

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	explain - make plain and comprehensible; "He explained the laws of physics to his students"explicateinform - impart knowledge of some fact, state or affairs, or event to; "I informed him of his rights"rede, interpret - give an interpretation or explanation toaccount for - give reasons for; "Can you account for all these absences?"naturalize - explain with reference to natureclarify, clear up, elucidate - make clear and (more) comprehensible; "clarify the mystery surrounding her death"comment - explain or interpret something
	2.	explain - define; "The committee explained their plan for fund-raising to the Dean"say, state, tell - express in words; "He said that he wanted to marry her"; "tell me what is bothering you"; "state your opinion"; "state your name"
	3.	explain - serve as a reason or cause or justification of; "Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at work"; "Her recent divorce may explain her reluctance to date again"excusealibi - exonerate by means of an alibivindicate, justify - show to be right by providing justification or proof; "vindicate a claim"

explain

verb1. make clear or plain, describe, demonstrate, illustrate, teach, define, solve, resolve, interpret, disclose, unfold, clarify, clear up, simplify, expound, elucidate, put into words, throw light on, explicate (formal), give the details of He explained the process to us in simple terms.2. account for, excuse, justify, give a reason for, give an explanation for Can you explain why you didn't telephone me?Quotations
"Never explain - your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway" [Elbert Hubbard The Motto Book]

explain

verb1. To make understandable:construe, decipher, explicate, expound, interpret, spell out.Archaic: enucleate.Idiom: put into plain English.2. To find a solution for:clear up, decipher, resolve, solve, unravel.Informal: dope out, figure out.Idiom: get to the bottom of.3. To offer reasons for or a cause of:account for, justify, rationalize.phrasal verb
explain awayTo conceal or make light of a fault or offense:extenuate, gloss over, gloze (over), palliate, sleek over, whitewash.

Translations

解释说明

explain

(ikˈsplein) verb1. to make (something) clear or easy to understand. Can you explain the railway timetable to me?; Did she explain why she was late?说明2. to give, or be, a reason for. I cannot explain his failure; That explains his silence.解释explanation (ekspləˈneiʃən) noun1. the act or process of explaining. Let me give a few words of explanation.说明2. a statement or fact that explains. There are several possible explanations for the explosion.解释exˈplanatory (-ˈsplӕnə-) adjective giving an explanation. There are explanatory notes in this book.解释的explain away to get rid of (difficulties etc) by clever explaining. She could not explain away the missing money.巧辩过去

explain

→ 解释zhCN

Can you explain what the matter is? → 能告诉我是什么病吗？

explain

at great length

For a long duration. When I came home after curfew, my mom interrogated me at great length. He spoke at great length about how he had been inspired by his trip.See also: great, length

explain (oneself)

1. verb To clarify something that one has said or done. I'm sorry, I didn't quite follow your line of thinking—can you explain yourself?2. verb To explain why one has done something, usually something bad or wrong. Often used as an imperative in the phrase "explain yourself." Now that they caught me plagiarizing, I'm going to have to explain myself before a disciplinary committee. Explain yourself—what could have possibly convinced you that it was OK to plagiarize your paper?See also: explain

explain away

To try to minimize a problem or issue through explanation. A noun or pronoun can be used between "explain" and "away." He's trying to explain it away, but I know he lied to me.See also: away, explain

explain (someone or something) to (one)

To attempt to improve one's understanding of someone or something through explanation. Please explain Claire to me because I can't understand some of the wacky things she's done. Can you explain this chapter to me? I just don't get it.See also: explain

*at great length

for a long period of time. (*Typically: explain ~; question someone ~; speak ~.) The lawyer questioned the witness at great length.See also: great, length

explain (oneself)

1. to explain what one has said or done or what one thinks or feels. (Formal and polite.) Please take a moment to explain yourself. I'm sure we are interested in your ideas. Yes, if you will let me explain myself, I think you'll agree with my idea. 2. to give an explanation or excuse for something wrong that one may have done. (Usually said in anger.) Young man! Come in here and explain yourself this instant. Why did you do that, Tom Smith? You had better explain yourself, and it had better be good.

explain someone or something to someone

to give information or instruction about someone or something to someone. Please explain it to me. Can you explain Andrew to me?See also: explain

explain something away

to explain something so that it is no longer a problem. You can try to explain it away if you want, but that won't solve the problem. You can't just explain away all your problems.See also: away, explain

explain away

Dismiss or minimize the importance of something, especially something detrimental. For example, "His words were taken down, and though he tried to explain them away, he was sent to the Tower" (Thomas Macaulay, The History of England, 1855). [c. 1700] See also: away, explain

explain oneself

1. Clarify what one has said or done, as in If you have a few minutes, I'll try to explain myself. [First half of 1600s] 2. Demand or give an explanation or excuse for something wrong one has done. For example, You're three hours late-can you explain yourself?See also: explain

exˈplain yourself

1 give somebody reasons for your behaviour, especially when they are angry or upset because of it: I really don’t see why I should have to explain myself to you.
2 say what you mean in a clear way: Could you explain yourself a little more — I didn’t understand.See also: explain

explain away

v. To dismiss or minimize the significance of something by explanation: The candidate tried to explain his earlier misstatements away. The researcher explained away the criticisms that were raised against her hypothesis.See also: away, explain

explain

ex·plain

explain

ex•plain

explain

explain

explain

explain

explain

explain

explain

at great length

explain (oneself)

explain away

explain (someone or something) to (one)

*at great length

explain (oneself)

explain someone or something to someone

explain something away

explain away

explain oneself

exˈplain yourself

explain away

explain

Synonyms for explain

verb make clear or plain

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verb account for

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Synonyms for explain

verb to make understandable

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verb to find a solution for

Synonyms

verb to offer reasons for or a cause of

Synonyms

phrase explain away: to conceal or make light of a fault or offense

Synonyms

Synonyms for explain

verb make plain and comprehensible

Synonyms

Related Words

verb define

Related Words

verb serve as a reason or cause or justification of

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Related Words