plain
gb/plˈeɪn/ us/plˈeɪn/
A2
Anglais
~ 3300
Sens
0 sens
adjective
A2
property
1
Clear and easy to understand
Easy to understand; clear to see or know.
Schéma d’usage :
[something] is plain
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'plain' with 'plane', which is a completely different word meaning an aircraft or a flat surface.
Synonymes
clear (Almost identical in meaning, but 'clear' can also refer to physical transparency or absence of obstruction.)
Antonymes
unclear (Direct opposite, meaning not easy to understand or see.)
Collocations
plain fact
|plain truth
|plain meaning
|plain answer
Thèmes
communication
|understanding
|education
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- It was plain that she was upset.
- The reason for his decision is plain to everyone.
- From his tone, it was plain he was angry.
Exemples pédagogiques
- It is plain that he is tired.
- The answer is plain to me.
- Her face made it plain she was sad.
adjective
A2
property
2
Simple and without decoration
Simple and not beautiful or decorated.
Schéma d’usage :
[something] is plain
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may confuse 'plain' with 'plan', which refers to an arrangement or intention.
Synonymes
simple (Very similar, but 'simple' can refer to ease of use or complexity as well as appearance.)
Antonymes
fancy (Opposite in terms of decoration and elaborateness.)
Collocations
plain dress
|plain room
|plain style
|plain food
Thèmes
appearance
|design
|core_vocabulary
|arts_entertainment
Exemples
- She wore a plain black dress.
- The walls were painted a plain white.
- He prefers plain food without spices.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I have a plain shirt.
- The room is plain and small.
- She eats plain bread.
Nom
B1
entity
3
Large flat treeless area
A big flat area of land with no trees.
Erreur fréquente :
Some learners may confuse 'plain' with 'plane', especially in writing.
Synonymes
grassland (Similar, but 'grassland' emphasizes vegetation type rather than flatness.)
Antonymes
mountain (Opposite in terms of terrain elevation and shape.)
Collocations
grassy plain
|vast plain
|open plain
Thèmes
geography
|nature
Exemples
- Herds of bison roamed the open plains.
- The city lies on a vast plain.
- Farmers grow wheat on the fertile plains.
Exemples pédagogiques
- We crossed the plain by car.
- The plain is very big and flat.
- Many animals live on the plain.
adjective
A2
property
4
Without added flavor or extras
Without anything added to it.
Schéma d’usage :
[food/drink] is plain
Synonymes
natural ('Natural' can imply no artificial changes, while 'plain' focuses on absence of additions.)
Antonymes
flavored (Contains added flavorings or ingredients.)
Collocations
plain yogurt
|plain rice
|plain water
Thèmes
food
|food_drink
|daily_life
Exemples
- I prefer plain yogurt to the sweetened kind.
- Please bring me a glass of plain water.
- She ordered a burger with plain fries.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I like plain milk.
- He eats plain rice every day.
- She drinks plain tea.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
plain
API
GB/plˈeɪn/
US/plˈeɪn/
Syllabes et accentuation
plain (1 syllabe)
Stress on 1st syllable (plain)
Formes du mot
Adjective
- Base: plain
- Comparative: plainer
- Superlative: plainest
Noun
- Base: plain
- Plural: plains
Famille de mots
Forms
plains
noun
plainer
adjective
plainest
adjective
Core family
plainly
adverb B1
Advanced or less common
plainness
noun
Expressions
in plain sight
1/ˈɪn plˈeɪn sˈaɪt/
fixed phrase
Clearly visible and not hidden
Easy to see; not hidden.
Exemples
- The keys were in plain sight on the table.
- The mistake was in plain sight, but no one noticed.
make it plain
1/mˈeɪk ˈɪt plˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
State something clearly and directly
Say something in a clear way so people understand.
Exemples
- She made it plain that she disagreed with the plan.
- He made it plain that he wanted more money.
plain and simple
1/plˈeɪn ˈænd sˈɪmpəl/
fixed phrase
Obvious and uncomplicated truth
Used to say that something is very clear and simple to understand.
Exemples
- It was a lie, plain and simple.
- They broke the rules, plain and simple.