simple
easy to understand, deal with, use, etc.: a simple matter;simple tools.
not elaborate or artificial; plain: a simple style.
not ornate or luxurious; unadorned: a simple gown.
unaffected; unassuming; modest: a simple manner.
not complicated: a simple design.
not complex or compound;single
free of deceit or guile; sincere; unconditional: a frank, simple answer.
common or ordinary: a simple soldier.
not grand or sophisticated; unpretentious: a simple way of life.
humble or lowly: simple folk.
inconsequential or rudimentary.
lacking mental acuteness or sense: a simple way of thinking.
Chemistry.
composed of only one substance or element: a simple substance.
not mixed.
Botany. not divided into parts: a simple leaf;a simple stem.
Zoology. not compound: a simple ascidian.
Music. uncompounded or without overtones; single: simple tone.
Grammar. having only the head without modifying elements included: The simple subject of “The dappled pony gazed over the fence” is “pony.”: Compare complete (def. 5).
(of a verb tense) consisting of a main verb with no auxiliaries, as takes (simple present) or stood (simple past) (opposed to compound).
Mathematics. linear (def. 8).
Optics. (of a lens) having two optical surfaces only.
an ignorant, foolish, or gullible person.
something simple, unmixed, or uncompounded.
simples, Textiles. cords for controlling the warp threads in forming the shed on draw-looms.
a person of humble origins; commoner.
an herb or other plant used for medicinal purposes: country simples.
Origin of simple
1synonym study For simple
confusables note For simple
Other words for simple
Other words from simple
- sim·ple·ness, noun
- o·ver·sim·ple, adjective
- o·ver·sim·ple·ness, noun
- o·ver·sim·p·ly, adverb
- sub·sim·ple, adjective
- ul·tra·sim·ple, adjective
- un·sim·ple, adjective
- un·sim·ple·ness, noun
- un·sim·p·ly, adverb
Words that may be confused with simple
- simple , simplified, simplistic
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use simple in a sentence
But on this occasion Mr. Jones drove himself over simply with the view of making a morning call.
The Landleaguers | Anthony TrollopeAt any rate the thing was done, and why should any man be thrown over simply because the world called him bad?
Sir Harry Hotspur of Humblethwaite | Anthony TrollopeHow could Laurence give her over simply because her heart would not let her refuse her mother any longer?
The Narrow House | Evelyn ScottIt looks right-down silly to colour up like that over simply nothing at all.
The School by the Sea | Angela BrazilI am to be thrown over simply because your lordship—chooses to throw me over?
The Eustace Diamonds | Anthony Trollope
British Dictionary definitions for simple
/ (ˈsɪmpəl) /
not involved or complicated; easy to understand or do: a simple problem
plain; unadorned: a simple dress
consisting of one element or part only; not combined or complex: a simple mechanism
unaffected or unpretentious: although he became famous, he remained a simple and well-liked man
not guileful; sincere; frank: her simple explanation was readily accepted
of humble condition or rank: the peasant was of simple birth
weak in intelligence; feeble-minded
(prenominal) without additions or modifications; mere: the witness told the simple truth
(prenomina) ordinary or straightforward: a simple case of mumps
chem (of a substance or material) consisting of only one chemical compound rather than a mixture of compounds
maths
(of a fraction) containing only integers
(of an equation) containing variables to the first power only; linear
(of a root of an equation) occurring only once; not multiple
biology
not divided into parts: a simple leaf; a simple eye
formed from only one ovary: simple fruit
music relating to or denoting a time where the number of beats per bar may be two, three, or four
a simpleton; fool
a plant, esp a herbaceous plant, having medicinal properties
Origin of simple
1Derived forms of simple
- simpleness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with simple
see pure and simple.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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