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explain

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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionaryex·plain \ik-ˈsplān\ verb ETYMOLOGY Middle English explanen, from Latin explanare,literally, to make level, from ex- + planus level, flat — more at floor DATE 15th centurytransitive verb1. a. to make known explain the secret of your success b. to make plain or understandable footnotes that explain the terms2. to give the reason for or cause of unable to explain his strange conduct3. to show the logical development or relationships of explained the new theoryintransitive verb: to make something plain or understandable a report that suggests rather than explains• ex·plain·able \-ˈsplā-nə-bəl\ adjective• ex·plain·er noun • • •- explain oneselfSynonyms. explain, expound, explicate, elucidate, interpret mean to make something clear or understandable. explain implies a making plain or intelligible what is not immediately obvious or entirely known explain the rules expound implies a careful often elaborate explanation expounding a scientific theory explicate adds the idea of a developed or detailed analysis explicate a poem elucidate stresses the throwing of light upon as by offering details or motives previously unclear or only implicit elucidate an obscure passage interpret adds to explain the need for imagination or sympathy or special knowledge in dealing with something interpreting a work of artEnglish Etymologyexplain 1510s, from L. explanare "to make level, smooth out;" also "to explain, make clear" (see explanation). Originally explane, spelling altered by influence of plain. In 17c., occasionally used more literally, of the unfolding of material things: Evelyn has buds that "explain into leaves" ["Sylva, or, A discourse of forest-trees, and the propagation of timber in His Majesties dominions," 1664].Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7☞ explainex·plain / ik5splein / verb1. ~ sth (to sb) to tell sb about sth in a way that makes it easy to understand 解释；说明；阐明: ▪ [VN] First, I'll explain the rules of the game. 首先我要说明一下游戏规则。 It was difficult to explain the problem to beginners. 对初学者解释这个问题很难。 ▪ [V] 'Let me explain!' he added helpfully. "让我来说明一下！"他乐于帮忙地补充道。 ▪ [V that] I explained that an ambulance would be coming soon. 我解释说救护车很快就到。 ▪ [V wh-] He explained who each person in the photo was. 他对照片里的人一一作了介绍。 Can you explain how the email system works? 你能说明一下电子邮件系统的工作原理吗？ She explained to them what to do in an emergency. 她向他们说明了紧急情况下应采取的行动。 ▪ [V speech] 'It works like this,' she explained. "它是这样工作的。"她解释道。 ▪ [also VN that] 2. ~ sth (to sb) to give a reason, or be a reason, for sth 说明(…的)原因；解释(…的)理由: ▪ [V] She tried to explain but he wouldn't listen. 她试图说明一下原因,可他根本不听。 ▪ [V that] Alex explained that his car had broken down. 亚历克斯解释说他的汽车出了毛病。 ▪ [V wh-] Well, that doesn't explain why you didn't phone. 嗳,那不是你不打电话的理由。 ▪ [VN] scientific findings that help explain the origins of the universe 有助于解释宇宙起源的科学研究发现 The government now has to explain its decision to the public. 政府现在必须向公众解释决策的理由。 (informal) Oh well then, that explains it (= I understand now why sth happened). 噢,原来是这么回事。 HELP You cannot say 'explain me, him, her, etc.': Can you explain the situation to me? Can you explain me the situation? ◊ I'll explain to you why I like it. ◊ I'll explain you why I like it. 不能说 explain me、him、her 等。可以说 Can you explain the situation to me? 不作 Can you explain me the situation? 可以说 I'll explain to you why I like it. 不作 I'll explain you why I like it. IDIOMS ▪ ex'plain yourself 1. to give sb reasons for your behaviour, especially when they are angry or upset because of it 为自己的行为作说明(或解释): I really don't see why I should have to explain myself to you. 我真不明白我为什么非要向你解释我的行为不可。 2. to say what you mean in a clear way 把自己的意思解释清楚: Could you explain yourself a little more—I didn't understand. 请把你的意思说得更清楚一点——我还不明白。 PHRASAL VERBS ▪ ex7plain sth ↔ a'way to give reasons why sth is not your fault or why sth is not important 为…作辩解 WORD FAMILY explain v. explanation n. explanatory adj. explicable adj. ( ≠ inexplicable ) Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of EnglishOxford Collocations dictionary for students of Englishexplain verb ADV. in detail I wrote explaining the issues in great detail. | fully The reasons for the accident have not been fully explained. | adequately, properly, satisfactorily | partly This partly explains why he was so late. | briefly | easily, readily This phenomenon can be easily explained. | clearly | carefully | patiently The doctor explained patiently what the treatment would be. | earnestly | concisely, succinctly, tersely The general principles behind the method used are explained clearly and concisely. ‘We've already paid,’ I explained tersely. | awkwardly, lamely | breathlessly, excitedly VERB + EXPLAIN be able/unable to, can/could I know I'm late, but I can explain why. | attempt to, seek to, try to | help (to) | purport to Many theories purport to explain growth in terms of a single cause. | be difficult to, be hard to It's difficult to explain exactly how the system works. | hasten to She saw his quick frown and hastened to explain. | let sb Let me explain what I mean. PREP. about She tried to explain about her fears and anxieties. | to She explained the plan to me very carefully. PHRASES explain everything I've got a letter here which explains everything. | go a long way/some way towards explaining sth This goes some way towards explaining the hostility between the two groups. OLTexplain verb⇨ explain 1 (explain how sth works)⇨ explain 2 (explain your behaviour)Webster's Third New International Dictionary, UnabridgedSearch result show the entry is found in: explain oneself , or explain awayex·plain\ikˈsplān, ek-\ verb(-ed/-ing/-s)Etymology: Middle English explanen, from Latin explanare to level, make plain or clear, from ex- ex- (I) + -planare, from planus level, flat — more at floortransitive verb1. a. : to make manifest : present in detail : expound, disclose < promised to explain the secret of his success > b. : to make plain or understandable : clear of complexities or obscurity : interpret, clarify < a commentary that explains the more difficult passages of the poem > c. : to give the meaning or significance of : provide an understanding of < explained the concept in straightforward language > d. : to give the reason for or cause of : account for < was unable to explain his strange conduct >2. obsolete : to spread or open out : unfold, expand < the horse chestnut is … ready to explain its leaf — John Evelyn >3. a. : to show the logical development of : explicate < explain an intellectual argument > b. : to subsume under a scientific theory or exhibit as an instance of a scientific law < explain natural events > c. : to deduce from stated premises : prove < explain a mathematical result >4. : to state by way of explanation — used in direct or indirect discourseintransitive verb1. : to give an explanation < a poet whose words intimate rather than define, suggest rather than … explain — Irwin Edman >2. obsolete : to speak one's mind < the public … begins to explain upon him — Earl of Chesterfield >Synonyms: account (for), justify, rationalize: to explain is to clarify or make acceptable to the understanding something that it finds mysterious, causeless, or inconsistent < explain an inconsistency in a financial report > < there is no comprehensive theory that explains these phenomena > < the mountainous character of Greece explains its division into a crowd of petty states — Edward Clodd > To account (for) suggests a making acceptable by the fitting of the thing to be accounted for into some acceptable scheme (as logical or mathematical consistency, or an order of nature) < their presence could not be accounted for by some temporary catastrophe, such as the Mosaic Flood — S.F.Mason > < the presence of buffalo accounted for the character of the Indian civilizations frontiersmen encountered when they entered the Great Plains — R.A.Billington > < account for the loss of a company's money > To justify is to account for or explain, or attempt to account for or explain, to one's or someone's satisfaction, especially by explaining away guilt or blame < the playhouse was forced to justify itself as a serious cultural endeavor — American Guide Series: Pennsylvania > < decided after the second day of the hearings that not enough people were watching to justify the expense — Gilbert Seldes > < an opinion justified by the facts > To rationalize in an older sense stresses the idea of something acceptable to reason but in modern use signifies frequently to justify by false, especially self-deceptive, reasoning < cooperation with those from whom we differ is possible only if we rationalize our beliefs and thus make them intelligible to those having different backgrounds — M.R.Cohen > < we rationalize our cumbersome habit, taking for granted or explaining that this custom is intrinsically and logically best — A.L.Kroeber >•- explain oneself

Explain To To I Make Sth Verb Explained