simple
Use Simple in a sentence
pəl adjective
1.
easy to understand, deal with, use, etc.: a simple matter; simple tools.
2.
not elaborate or artificial; plain: a simple style.
3.
not ornate or luxurious; unadorned: a simple gown.
4.
unaffected; unassuming; modest: a simple manner.
5.
not complicated: a simple design.
6.
not complex or compound; single.
7.
occurring or considered alone; mere; bare: the simple truth; a simple fact.
8.
free of deceit or guile; sincere; unconditional: a frank, simple answer.
9.
common or ordinary: a simple soldier.
10.
not grand or sophisticated; unpretentious: a simple way of life.
11.
humble or lowly: simple folk.
12.
inconsequential or rudimentary.
13.
unlearned; ignorant.
14.
lacking mental acuteness or sense: a simple way of thinking.
15.
unsophisticated; naive; credulous.
16.
17.
Chemistry.
a.
composed of only one substance or element: a simple substance.
b.
not mixed.
18.
Botany. not divided into parts: a simple leaf; a simple stem.
19.
Zoology. not compound: a simple ascidian.
20.
Music. uncompounded or without overtones; single: simple tone.
21.
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 ).
22.
23.
24.
Optics. (of a lens) having two optical surfaces only.
noun
25.
an ignorant, foolish, or gullible person.
26.
something simple, unmixed, or uncompounded.
27.
simples, Textiles. cords for controlling the warp threads in forming the shed on draw-looms.
28.
a person of humble origins; commoner.
29.
an herb or other plant used for medicinal purposes: country simples.
00:10
Simple
is always a great word to know.
So is alternation of generations. Does it mean:
| variation in an organism's life cycle of dissimilar reproductive forms |
| plants without a xylem and phloem to transport fluid and nutrients internally |
Origin:
1175–1225; (adj.) Middle English < Old French < Late Latin simplus simple, Latin (in simpla pecunia simple fee or sum), equivalent to sim- one (see simplex) + -plus, as in duplus duple, double (see -fold); cognate with Greek háplos (see haplo-); (noun) Middle English: commoner, derivative of the adj.
1175–1225; (adj.) Middle English < Old French < Late Latin simplus simple, Latin (in simpla pecunia simple fee or sum), equivalent to sim- one (see simplex) + -plus, as in duplus duple, double (see -fold); cognate with Greek háplos (see haplo-); (noun) Middle English: commoner, derivative of the adj.
Related forms
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
Synonyms
1. clear, intelligible, understandable, unmistakable, lucid. 2. natural, unembellished, neat. 8. artless, guileless, ingenuous. 12. trifling, trivial, nonessential, unnecessary. 13. untutored, stupid.
1. clear, intelligible, understandable, unmistakable, lucid. 2. natural, unembellished, neat. 8. artless, guileless, ingenuous. 12. trifling, trivial, nonessential, unnecessary. 13. untutored, stupid.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To simple
Collins
World English Dictionary
simple (ˈsɪmpəl) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | not involved or complicated; easy to understand or do: a simple problem |
| 2. | plain; unadorned: a simple dress |
| 3. | consisting of one element or part only; not combined or complex: a simple mechanism |
| 4. | unaffected or unpretentious: although he became famous, he remained a simple and well-liked man |
| 5. | not guileful; sincere; frank: her simple explanation was readily accepted |
| 6. | of humble condition or rank: the peasant was of simple birth |
| 7. | weak in intelligence; feeble-minded |
| 8. | (prenominal) without additions or modifications; mere: the witness told the simple truth |
| 9. | (prenomina) ordinary or straightforward: a simple case of mumps |
| 10. | chem (of a substance or material) consisting of only one chemical compound rather than a mixture of compounds |
| 11. | maths |
| a. (of a fraction) containing only integers | |
| b. (of an equation) containing variables to the first power only; linear | |
| c. (of a root of an equation) occurring only once; not multiple | |
| 12. | biology |
| a. not divided into parts: a simple leaf; a simple eye | |
| b. formed from only one ovary: simple fruit | |
| 13. | music relating to or denoting a time where the number of beats per bar may be two, three, or four |
| —n | |
| 14. | a simpleton; fool |
| 15. | a plant, esp a herbaceous plant, having medicinal properties |
| [C13: via Old French from Latin simplex plain] | |
| 'simpleness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
simple
early 13c., "humble, ignorant," from O.Fr. simple, from L. simplus "single," variant of simplex (see simplex). Sense evolved to "lowly, common" (late 13c.), then "mere, pure" (c.1300). As opposite of composite it dates from 1425; as opposite of complicated it dates from
c.1555. Disparaging sense (mid-14c.) is from notion of "devoid of duplicity." Simply (adv.) in purely intensive sense is attested from 1590.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary
SIMPLE definition
1. Early system on Datatron 200 series. Listed in CACM 2(5):16 (May 1959).
2. Simulation of Industrial Management Problems with Lots of Equations. R.K. Bennett, 1958. Predecessor to DYNAMO, for IBM 704.
American Heritage
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
Pure and simple, they do not belong to those who took them.
So clear and simple is it, indeed, that one constantly forgets that the printed page is before one.
It's a natural fit for practically any get-together-from a simple family birthday celebration to an elaborate dinner party.
It's so simple and easy to carbonate anything, especially liquor.
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