Definition of plain - Reverso English Dictionary
Adjective
1.
simplelacking decoration or embellishment
- She wore a plain dress to the event.
2.
obviouseasy to understand or recognize
- The instructions were plain and easy to follow.
3.
personalityhonest and straightforward in manner
- He gave a plain answer to the question.
4.
designof a single color without patterns
- He prefers plain shirts over patterned ones.
5.
foodhaving few ingredients or seasonings
- I ordered a plain sandwich without any toppings.
6.
unattractivenot beautiful or attractive
- She considered herself plain compared to her sister.
Noun
1.
geographylarge area of flat land with few trees
- The vast plain stretched out under the open sky..
2.
materialsimple woven fabric
- She chose a dress made of plain silk for the ceremony..
3.
knittingTECH. UK simple stitch in knittingTECH. UK
- She used a plain stitch to make the scarf.
Adverb
1.
simplyin a simple way without extra details
- She explained the rules plain and clear.
2.
languageUS used to emphasize an adjectiveUS
- The movie was plain boring.
Verb
1.
claritytr. UK explain something so others can easily understandtr. UK
- He tried to plain the complex idea to us.
2.
complainintr. Dated express dissatisfaction or unhappinessintr. Dated
- She would plain about the weather every day.
Images of plain
large area of flat land with few trees 
simple woven fabric 
simple stitch in knitting
Expressions with plain
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woman who is ordinary or unremarkable
Despite being a plain Jane she had a unique charm.
ordinary without any special features
I just want a plain old cup of coffee.
something simple or easy without difficulties
After the initial setup, the project was plain sailing.
simple and without special features or qualities
This is just a plain vanilla version.
using simple and clear language
He explained the process in plain English so everyone could understand.
easily noticeable or obvious to everyone
The mistake was plain for all to see.
very clear and easy to understand
The mistake was plain to see.
explain clearly so everyone understands
She made it plain that she was unhappy.
very clear and easy to understand
The instructions were plain as day.
simple brown paper used to wrap things for privacy or packaging
The magazine arrived in a plain brown wrapper for privacy.
easily seen or very visible
The keys were left in plain view on the table.
completely simple or ordinary, with nothing special
The room was just plain boring.
bread without any added ingredients or flavors
He prefers plain bread with his soup.
simple and unadorned dress
She wore a plain dress to the casual event.
language that is clear and easy to understand
The instructions were written in plain English.
wheat flour for general use without any raising agent
Plain flour is used for cakes, biscuits, and sauces.
food that is simple and not spicy
She prefers plain food like bread and butter.
simple bread without added ingredients
She bought a plain loaf from the bakery.
paper without lines or markings
She prefers to sketch on plain paper.
water without flavor or additives
I prefer plain water over soda.
approach to communication that promotes clear wording for every reader
The organization adopted plain language to improve how it explains benefits.
wearing normal clothes instead of a uniform
The detective was working in plain clothes.
state your opinion clearly so everyone understands
She made her view plain during the meeting.
dark chocolate with a slightly bitter taste
I prefer plain chocolate over milk chocolate.
Origin of plain
Latin, planus (flat) + French, plain (clear)
Terms with plain included in their meaning
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basic speech
plain and easy-to-understand form of English
plain talk
straightforward or direct in speech
design
decorative or ornamented, not plain
writing style
capital letters used in writing, often plain and undecorated
simplicity
plain and without decoration
plain style
ordinary or conventional without special features
dilute
add plain liquid to make a drink weaker
packaging
plain brown paper bag used for carrying items
plain sight
openly and without hiding
appearance
unattractive or plain in appearance
simplicity
something plain without special features
unadorned
plain without any extra elements
bluntly
in a plain and direct way
computing
file with only plain text data
bar request
whisky served plain, with no ice or added liquids
straight truth
used to say only the plain important details are given
figurative
plain or basic style
plain or simple
lacking decoration or luxury in style or way of living
statement
plain and unembellished
plain information
basic information given without extra detail or emotion
plainest
most plain or blunt
shape design
having a shape or appearance like a plain box
code
convert coded information into plain text
cryptography
convert encrypted text to plain text
Examples of plain in a sentence
The room was decorated in a plain style. Her plain expression showed she was unimpressed. It's plain that he is the best candidate for the job. Her plain manner made her trustworthy. He appreciated her plain speaking during the meeting. She wore a plain dress to the event.
The room was decorated with plain curtains. He prefers plain pasta with just butter. The plain cake was surprisingly delicious. The building looked plain beside the ornate theater. He chose a plain, unremarkable design for the sign. Farmers worked on the fertile plain. The plain was home to many wild animals. The tailor recommended a plain for the summer suit. She bought a plain to make curtains. She learned the plain stitch in her first class. The plain stitch is perfect for beginners. He spoke plain, without any embellishments. The instructions were written plain for everyone to understand. The food was plain delicious. Her explanation was plain simple. Can you plain this diagram for me? She managed to plain the instructions clearly. He would plain about his job constantly. They plain about the noise every night.
View all translations of plain
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:simple, plaine, ...
- German:einfach, Ebene, ...
- Italian:semplice, pianura, ...
- Spanish:sencillo, llanura, ...
- Portuguese:simples, planície, ...
- Chinese:朴素的, 平原, ...
- Japanese:シンプルな, 平野, ...
- Arabic:بَسِيط, سَهْل, ...
- Hebrew:פָּשׁוּט, מִישׁוֹר, ...
- Russian:простой, равнина, ...
- Ukrainian:простий, рівнина, ...
- Hindi:सादा, मैदान, ...
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