Explain

v. t. [imp. & p. p. EXPLAINED; p. pr. & vb. n. EXPLAINING.] [Lat. explanare, from ex, out of, from, and planare, to make level or plain, from planus, even, level, plain; Sp. & Pg. explanar, Pr. & Pg. esplanar, It. spianare.]

1Sense 1. To spread out in a flattened form; to make plain or flat. [Obs.] The . . . horse-chestnut is . . . ready to explain its leaf. Evelyn.

2Sense 2. To make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity; to expound; to unfold and illustrate the meaning of; as, a preacher explains the Scriptures.

'Tis now your honor, daughter, to explain The labor of each knight, in his device. Shak.

Synonyms— To expound; interpret; elucidate; clear up.

v. i. To give explanations.