plainˈness noun

plain bob see bob¹

plainˈchant noun

Plainsong

plain chocolate noun

Dark chocolate, made with some sugar added but without milk

plainˈclothes adjective

Wearing ordinary clothes, not uniform (eg of a policeman on detective work)

plain cook noun

Someone competent in plain cookery

plainˈ-cook intransitive verb

To practise plain cookery

plain cookery noun

The cooking of ordinary simple traditional dishes

plainˈ-darn transitive verb and intransitive verb

To darn with the ordinary cross pattern

plain dealer noun

A person who is candid and outspoken

plain dealing noun

plainˈ-dealing adjective

plain flour noun

Flour that is not mixed with a raising agent

plainˈ-heartˈed adjective

1. Having a plain or honest heart
2. Sincere

plainˈ-heartˈedness noun

plain Jane noun (derogatory informal)

A plain, dowdy girl

plainˈ-Jane adjective

1. Ordinary, unremarkable
2. Plain, esp of a garment

plain language noun

Straightforward, understandable language

plain loaf noun (Scot)

A batch loaf (qv under batch¹)

plain sailing noun

1. Sailing in open, unrestricted waters (nautical)
2. An easy, straightforward task, affair, etc (figurative)
3. See also plane sailing under plane¹

plainsˈman noun (pl plainsˈmen)

A dweller in a plain, esp in N America

plainˈsong noun

1. Unmeasured, unaccompanied music sung in unison in ecclesiastical modes from early times, and still in use in Roman Catholic and some Anglican churches
2. A simple melody
3. That to which a descant can be added

adjective (Shakespeare)

Singing a simple theme

plain speaking noun

Straightforwardness or bluntness of speech

plainˈ-spoken adjective

1. Plain, rough, and sincere
2. Frank, candid, esp if rather blunt

plainˈstanes plural noun (Scot)

Flagstones, pavement (also plainˈstones)

plain text noun (computing)

Text that is readable and uncoded

plain weave noun

A weave in which the weft is passed alternately under and over the warp

plainˈwork noun

Plain needlework, as distinguished from embroidery

plain as a pikestaff see under pike²