Definition of PLAIN

plain

Plural: plains

Noun

  • extensive tract of level open land
    • "they emerged from the woods onto a vast open plain"
  • a basic knitting stitch
  • An expanse of land with relatively low relief and few trees, especially a grassy expanse.
  • A broad, flat expanse in general, as of water.
  • Synonym of field in reference to a battlefield.
  • Alternative spelling of plane: a flat geometric field.
  • A lamentation.

Verb

Verb Forms: plained, plaining, plains

  • To complain or lament; to utter a mournful cry.
  • express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness
    • "My mother complains all day"
  • To level; to raze; to make plain or even on the surface.
  • To make plain or manifest; to explain.
  • To complain.
  • To lament, bewail.

Adjective Satellite

  • clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
    • "made his meaning plain"
    • "it is plain that he is no reactionary"
    • "in plain view"
  • not mixed with extraneous elements
    • "plain water"
  • free from any effort to soften to disguise
    • "the plain and unvarnished truth"
  • lacking embellishment or ornamentation
    • "a plain hair style"
  • lacking in physical beauty or proportion
    • "a plain girl with a freckled face"

Adjective

  • Clearly evident, simple, or unadorned.
  • not elaborate or elaborated; simple
    • "plain food"
    • "stuck to the plain facts"
    • "a plain blue suit"
    • "a plain rectangular brick building"
  • lacking patterns especially in color

Adverb

  • unmistakably (`plain' is often used informally for `plainly')
    • "You are plainly wrong"
    • "he is plain stubborn"

Adj

  • Flat, level.
  • Simple, unaltered.
  • Ordinary; lacking adornment or ornamentation; unembellished.
  • Simple, unaltered.
  • Of just one colour; lacking a pattern.
  • Simple, unaltered.
  • Simple in habits or qualities; unsophisticated, not exceptional, ordinary.
  • Simple, unaltered.
  • Having only few ingredients, or no additional ingredients or seasonings; not elaborate, without toppings or extras.
  • Simple, unaltered.
  • Containing no extended or nonprinting characters (especially in plain text).
  • Obvious.
  • Evident to one's senses or reason; manifest, clear, unmistakable.
  • Obvious.
  • Downright; total, unmistakable (as intensifier).
  • Open.
  • Honest and without deception; candid, open; blunt.
  • Open.
  • Clear; unencumbered; equal; fair.
  • Not unusually beautiful; unattractive.
  • Not a trump.
  • Full, complete in number or extent.

Adv

  • Simply.
  • Plainly; distinctly.

Examples

  • a plain pink polycotton skirt
  • a plain tune
  • He wanted to PLAIN about his terrible letter tiles, but he knew complaining never won Scrabble games.
  • He was dressed simply in plain black clothes.
  • His answer was just plain nonsense.
  • I plain forgot.
  • It was just plain stupid.
  • It was PLAIN to see that his opponent’s bingo play was going to win the Words With Friends game.
  • Let me be plain with you: I don't like her.
  • Tell me plain: do you love me or no?
  • They're just plain people like you or me.
  • Throughout high school she worried that she had a rather plain face.
  • to plain a loss
  • Would you like a poppy bagel or a plain bagel?

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English pleyn, borrowed from Anglo-Norman pleyn, playn, Middle French plain, plein, and Old French plain, from Latin plānus (“flat, even, level, plain”). Doublet of llano, piano, and plane.

Antonyms

cheer, fancy, patterned, bells and whistles, decorative, exotic, ornate

Scrabble Score: 7

plain: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
plain: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
plain: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 10

plain: valid Words With Friends Word