English verb: explain | |||
1. | explain (communication) make plain and comprehensible | ||
Samples | He explained the laws of physics to his students. | ||
Examples | Sam and Sue explain the movie | ||
Synonyms | explicate | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s something. Somebody ----s that CLAUSE | ||
Broader (hypernym) | inform | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | account for, clarify, clear up, comment, elucidate, interpret, naturalize, rede | ||
2. | explain (communication) define | ||
Samples | The committee explained their plan for fund-raising to the Dean. | ||
Examples | They explain that there was a traffic accident | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s that CLAUSE | ||
Broader (hypernym) | say, state, tell | ||
3. | explain (communication) serve as a reason or cause or justification of | ||
Samples | Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at work. Her recent divorce may explain her reluctance to date again. | ||
Synonyms | excuse | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | justify, vindicate | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | alibi | ||