plain

¹

[pleyn]

adjective

plainer, plainest 

1. clear or distinct to the eye or ear: to stand in plain view.

   a plain trail to the river;

   to stand in plain view.

   Synonyms: perspicuous, apparent, unmistakable, intelligible, understandable, lucid
   Antonyms: indistinct

2. clear to the mind; evident, manifest, or obvious.

   to make one's meaning plain.

   Synonyms: transparent, patent, unequivocal, unambiguous, perspicuous, apparent, unmistakable, intelligible, understandable, lucid
   Antonyms: obscure

3. conveying the meaning clearly and simply; easily understood.

   plain talk.

   Synonyms: transparent, patent, unequivocal, unambiguous

4. downright; sheer; utter; self-evident.

   plain folly;

   plain stupidity.

5. free from ambiguity or evasion; candid; outspoken.

   the plain truth of the matter.

   Synonyms: sincere, open, ingenuous, frank, blunt, direct, straightforward, unreserved

6. without special pretensions, superiority, elegance, etc.; ordinary.

   plain people.

   Synonyms: unpretentious

7. not beautiful; physically unattractive or undistinguished.

   a plain face.

8. without intricacies or difficulties.

9. ordinary, simple, or unostentatious.

   Although she was a duchess, her manners were attractively plain.

10. with little or no embellishment, decoration, or enhancing elaboration.

    a plain blue suit.

11. without a pattern, figure, or device.

    a plain fabric.

12. not rich, highly seasoned, or elaborately prepared, as food.

    a plain diet.

13. flat or level.

    plain country.

    Antonyms: hilly

14. unobstructed, clear, or open, as ground, a space, etc.

15. Cards.,  being other than a face card or a trump.

adverb

1. clearly and simply.

   He's just plain stupid.

noun

1. an area of land not significantly higher than adjacent areas and with relatively minor differences in elevation, commonly less than 500 feet (150 meters), within the area.

2. The Plains. Great Plains.

plain

²

[pleyn]

verb (used without object)

British Dialect.

1. to complain.

plain

¹

/ pleɪn /

adjective

1. flat or smooth; level

2. not complicated; clear

   the plain truth

3. not difficult; simple or easy

   a plain task

4. honest or straightforward

5. lowly, esp in social rank or education

6. without adornment or show

   a plain coat

7. (of fabric) without pattern or of simple untwilled weave

8. not attractive

9. not mixed; simple

   plain vodka

10. knitting of or done in plain

noun

1. a level or almost level tract of country, esp an extensive treeless region

2. a simple stitch in knitting made by putting the right needle into a loop on the left needle, passing the wool round the right needle, and pulling it through the loop, thus forming a new loop

3. 1. the unmarked white ball, as distinguished from the spot balls

   2. the player using this ball

4. (in Ireland) short for plain porter, a light porter

   two pints of plain, please

adverb

1. (intensifier)

   just plain tired

plain

²

/ pleɪn /

verb

1. a dialect or poetic word for complain

plain

1. An extensive, relatively level area of land. Plains are present on all continents except Antarctica and are most often located in the interior regions. Because they can occur at almost any altitude or latitude, plains can be humid and forested, semiarid and grass-covered, or arid.

2. A broad, level expanse, such as an area of the sea floor or a lunar mare.

Other Word Forms

• plainly adverb
• plainness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of plain¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English adjective, adverb, and noun plain(e), plein(e), from Old French adjective and noun plain(e), pleine, from Latin plānus “flat, level,” plānum “flat country”

Origin of plain²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English plei(g)nen, plene(n), from Anglo-French plainer, pleiner, Old French plaign-, stem of plaindre, pleindre, from Latin plangere “to strike, beat (the breast, etc.), lament”

Word History and Origins

Origin of plain¹

C13: from Old French: simple, from Latin plānus level, distinct, clear

Origin of plain²

C14 pleignen, from Old French plaindre to lament, from Latin plangere to beat

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in plain sight. in plain sight.

More idioms and phrases containing plain

• in plain English

Synonym Study

See homely.

Example Sentences

Watching “I Know This Much Is True” invites those of us keeping up with the latest TV releases to ponder how much prestige series productions worship tragedy – violent, miserable, and plain old funky.

From Salon

He particularly enjoyed a morality tale about two sisters – one beautiful but "vain and severe", who lost a suitor to her plain, but more agreeable, sibling.

From BBC

One of his victims said the abuse was "hidden in plain sight".

From BBC

The vast coastal plain grows most of the nation’s celery, along with beans, strawberries, onions and peppers, according to UC Davis data.

From Los Angeles Times

However, it was not plain sailing for Slot and his side as they met the eventual winners PSG in the opening knockout game.

From BBC

Related Words

• expanse 
• field 
• grassland 
• meadow 
• plateau 
• prairie 
• steppe