26984 words

plains

13 definitions • 24 examples
1
not decorated in any way; with nothing added:

Examples:

We've chosen a plain carpet (= one without a pattern) and patterned curtains.
He prefers plain food - nothing too fancy.
We're having plain blue walls in the dining room.
plain yogurt (= with no added fruit or sugar)
2
paper that has no lines on it:

Examples:

3
obvious and clear to understand:

Examples:

It's quite plain that they don't want to speak to us.
I made it quite plain (that) (= explained clearly that) I wasn't interested.
4
(used for emphasis) complete:

Examples:

It was plain stupidity on Richard's part.
5
(especially of a woman or girl) not beautiful:

Examples:

She had been a very plain child.
6
a woman or girl who is not attractive:

Examples:

If she'd been a plain Jane, she wouldn't have had all the attention.
7

Examples:

8

Examples:

a row of plain and two rows of purl
9

Examples:

I mean, taking the wrong equipment with you - that's just plain stupid.
10
not decorated in any way; with nothing added:

Examples:

The catalog was sent in a plain brown envelope.
The food is pretty plain (= prepared simply and without strong flavors), but there’s lots of it.
11
obvious, or clear and easy to see or understand; not complicated:

Examples:

A group of wild horses was in plain view (= We could see them clearly).
Why can’t they write these instructions in plain English?
12
(esp. of a woman or girl) not attractive:

Examples:

She always thought of herself as plain.
13
a large area of flat land at low elevation (= height above the surface of the earth):

Examples:

A number of paintings by Western artists show Indian settlements in the plains.

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