English noun: explanation | |||
1. | explanation (communication) a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc. | ||
Samples | The explanation was very simple. I expected a brief account. | ||
Synonyms | account | ||
Broader (hypernym) | statement | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | accounting, definition, derivation, deriving, etymologizing, explication, exposition, gloss, interpretation, justification, reason, rubric, simplification, walk-through | ||
Part holonym | explanandum, explanans, explicandum | ||
2. | explanation (cognition) thought that makes something comprehensible | ||
Broader (hypernym) | cerebration, intellection, mentation, thinking, thought, thought process | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | interpretation, interpreting, key, principle, rationale, rationalisation, rationalization, rendering, rendition, theory | ||
Part holonym | base, basis, cornerstone, foundation, fundament, groundwork | ||
3. | explanation (communication) the act of explaining; making something plain or intelligible | ||
Samples | I heard his explanation of the accident. | ||
Broader (hypernym) | speech act | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | elucidation, explication | ||