To explain something is to define it, show how it works, or just tell what it is. Explaining helps people understand.
If you know football really well, then you could probably explain it to a non-fan. Explaining makes things clearer. A lot of teaching is explaining — telling how something works. Also, if you do something wrong, people will ask you to explain your actions. Explaining can help someone "get it" — whatever "it" is.
Definitions of explain
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v make plain and comprehensible
“He
explained the laws of physics to his students”
- Synonyms:
- explicate
- Types:
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interpret, rede
give an interpretation or explanation to
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account for
give reasons for
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naturalize
explain with reference to nature
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clarify, clear up, elucidate
make clear and (more) comprehensible
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comment
explain or interpret something
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demystify
make less mysterious or remove the mystery from
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clear, clear up, crystalise, crystalize, crystallise, crystallize, elucidate, enlighten, illuminate, shed light on, sort out, straighten out
make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear
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second-guess
evaluate or criticize with hindsight
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moralise, moralize
interpret the moral meaning of
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deconstruct
interpret (a text or an artwork) by the method of deconstructing
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re-explain, reinterpret
interpret from a different viewpoint
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commentate
serve as a commentator, as in sportscasting
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misinterpret
interpret falsely
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dilate, elaborate, enlarge, expand, expatiate, exposit, expound, flesh out, lucubrate
add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing
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disambiguate
state unambiguously or remove ambiguities from
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annotate, comment, gloss
provide interlinear explanations for words or phrases
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commentate
make a commentary on
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DJ, disc-jockey, disk-jockey
comment on music to be played
- Type of:
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inform
impart knowledge of some fact, state or affairs, or event to