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simple - 12 dictionary results
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sim⋅ple

  [sim-puhl] adjective, -pler, -plest, noun
Use simple in a Sentence
–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. simpleminded.
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. (of a verb tense) consisting of a main verb with no auxiliaries, as takes (simple present) or stood (simple past) (opposed to compound ).
23. Mathematics. linear (def. 7).
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.
Origin:
1175–1225; (adj.) ME < OF < LL simplus simple, L (in simpla pecunia simple fee or sum), equiv. to sim- one (see simplex ) + -plus, as in duplus duple, double (see -fold ); c. Gk háplos (see haplo- ); (n.) ME: commoner, deriv. of the adj.

Related forms:
sim⋅ple⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. clear, intelligible, understandable, unmistakable, lucid. 2. natural, unembellished, neat. 8. artless, guileless, ingenuous. 10. See homely. 12. trifling, trivial, nonessential, unnecessary. 13. untutored, stupid.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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sim·ple   (sĭm'pəl)   
adj.   sim·pler, sim·plest
  1. Having or composed of only one thing, element, or part. See Synonyms at pure.
  2. Not involved or complicated; easy: a simple task. See Synonyms at easy.
  3. Being without additions or modifications; mere: a simple "yes" or "no."
  4. Having little or no ornamentation; not embellished or adorned: a simple dress.
  5. Not elaborate, elegant, or luxurious. See Synonyms at plain.
  6. Unassuming or unpretentious; not affected.
    1. Having or manifesting little sense or intelligence.
    2. Uneducated; ignorant.
    3. Unworldly or unsophisticated. See Synonyms at naive.
    4. Being a fundamental or rudimentary element; basic.
    5. Not important or significant; trivial.
  8. Not guileful or deceitful; sincere.
  9. Humble or lowly in condition or rank: a simple woodcutter.
  10. Ordinary or common: a simple head cold.
    1. Being a fundamental or rudimentary element; basic.
    2. Not important or significant; trivial.
  12. Biology Having no divisions or branches; not compound: a simple leaf; a simple eye or lens.
  13. Music Being without figuration or elaboration: a simple tone.
n.  
  1. A single component of a complex, especially one that is unanalyzable.
  2. A fool; a simpleton.
  3. A person of humble birth or condition.
  4. A medicinal plant or the medicine obtained from it.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin simplus; see sem-1 in Indo-European roots and from simplex; see simplex.]
sim'ple·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Simple

Sim"ple\, a. [Compar. Simpler; superl. Simplest.] [F., fr. L. simplus, or simplex, gen. simplicis. The first part of the Latin words is probably akin to E. same, and the sense, one, one and the same; cf. L. semel once, singuli one to each, single. Cg. Single, a., Same, a., and for the last part of the word cf. Double, Complex.]

1. Single; not complex; not infolded or entangled; uncombined; not compounded; not blended with something else; not complicated; as, a simple substance; a simple idea; a simple sound; a simple machine; a simple problem; simple tasks.

2. Plain; unadorned; as, simple dress. "Simple truth." --Spenser. "His simple story." --Burns.

3. Mere; not other than; being only.

A medicine . . . whose simple touch Is powerful to araise King Pepin. --Shak.

4. Not given to artifice, stratagem, or duplicity; undesigning; sincere; true.

Full many fine men go upon my score, as simple as I stand here, and I trust them. --Marston.

Must thou trust Tradition's simple tongue? --Byron.

To be simple is to be great. --Emerson.

5. Artless in manner; unaffected; unconstrained; natural; inartificial;; straightforward.

In simple manners all the secret lies. --Young.

6. Direct; clear; intelligible; not abstruse or enigmatical; as, a simple statement; simple language.

7. Weak in intellect; not wise or sagacious; of but moderate understanding or attainments; hence, foolish; silly. "You have simple wits." --Shak.

The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man looketh well to his going. --Prov. xiv. 15.

8. Not luxurious; without much variety; plain; as, a simple diet; a simple way of living.

Thy simple fare and all thy plain delights. --Cowper.

9. Humble; lowly; undistinguished.

A simple husbandman in garments gray. --Spenser.

Clergy and laity, male and female, gentle and simple made the fuel of the same fire. --Fuller.

10. (BOt.) Without subdivisions; entire; as, a simple stem; a simple leaf.

11. (Chem.) Not capable of being decomposed into anything more simple or ultimate by any means at present known; elementary; thus, atoms are regarded as simple bodies. Cf. Ultimate, a.

Note: A simple body is one that has not as yet been decomposed. There are indications that many of our simple elements are still compound bodies, though their actual decomposition into anything simpler may never be accomplished.

12. (Min.) Homogenous.

13. (Zo["o]l.) Consisting of a single individual or zooid; as, a simple ascidian; -- opposed to compound.

Simple contract (Law), any contract, whether verbal or written, which is not of record or under seal. --J. W. Smith. --Chitty.

Simple equation (Alg.), an eqyation containing but one unknown quantity, and that quantity only in the first degree.

Simple eye (Zo["o]l.), an eye having a single lens; -- opposed to compound eye.

Simple interest. See under Interest.

Simple larceny. (Law) See under Larceny.

Simple obligation (Rom. Law), an obligation which does not depend for its execution upon any event provided for by the parties, or is not to become void on the happening of any such event. --Burrill.

Syn: Single; uncompounded; unmingled; unmixed; mere; uncombined; elementary; plain; artless; sincere; harmless; undesigning; frank; open; unaffected; inartificial; unadorned; credulous; silly; foolish; shallow; unwise.

Usage: Simple, Silly. One who is simple is sincere, unaffected, and inexperienced in duplicity, -- hence liable to be duped. A silly person is one who is ignorant or weak and also self-confident; hence, one who shows in speech and act a lack of good sense. Simplicity is incompatible with duplicity, artfulness, or vanity, while silliness is consistent with all three. Simplicity denotes lack of knowledge or of guile; silliness denotes want of judgment or right purpose, a defect of character as well as of education.

I am a simple woman, much too weak To oppose your cunning. --Shak.

He is the companion of the silliest people in their most silly pleasure; he is ready for every impertinent entertainment and diversion. --Law.

Simple

Sim"ple\, n. [F. See Simple, a.]

1. Something not mixed or compounded. "Compounded of many simples." --Shak.

2. (Med.) A medicinal plant; -- so called because each vegetable was supposed to possess its particular virtue, and therefore to constitute a simple remedy.

What virtue is in this remedy lies in the naked simple itself as it comes over from the Indies. --Sir W. Temple.

3. (Weaving) (a) A drawloom. (b) A part of the apparatus for raising the heddles of a drawloom.

4. (R. C. Ch.) A feast which is not a double or a semidouble.

Simple

Sim"ple\, v. i. To gather simples, or medicinal plants.

As simpling on the flowery hills she [Circe] strayed. --Garth.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : simple
Spanish: sencillo, fácil, simple,
German: einfach,
Japanese: 簡単な
More Translations »

simple 
c.1220, "humble, ignorant," from O.Fr. simple, from L. simplus "single," variant of simplex (see simplex). Sense evolved to "lowly, common" (c.1280), then "mere, pure" (1303). As opposite of composite it dates from 1425; as opposite of complicated it dates from c.1555. Disparaging sense (1340) is from notion of "devoid of duplicity." Simply (adv.) in purely intensive sense is attested from 1590.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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SIMPLE

A savings incentive match plan for employees that is similar to but more flexible than an IRA for businesses with 100 or fewer employees. Employees enter into a qualified salary reduction agreement to contribute a percentage of their annual compensation to a tax-deferred retirement account.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Main Entry: sim·ple
Function: adjective
1 : oral or written but not under seal or of record
2 : not extreme, aggravated, or complicated <simple kidnapping>
3 : having no limitations or restrictions —see also FEE SIMPLE —sim·ply adverb
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Main Entry: 1sim·ple
Pronunciation: 'sim-p&l
Function: adjective
Inflected Forms: sim·pler /-p(&-)l&r/;sim·plest /-p(&-)l&st/
1 : free from complexity or difficulty: as a : easily treated or cured simple vitamindeficiency> b : controlled by a single gene <simple inherited characters>
2 : of, relating to, or being an epithelium in which the cells arearranged in a single layer

Main Entry: 2simple
Function: noun
1 : a medicinal plant
2 : a vegetable drug having only one ingredient
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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SIMPLE
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.

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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simple

see pure and simple.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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