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the plains

 - 3 dictionary results
The Plaines
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plain

1  [pleyn] adjective, -er, -est, adverb, noun
Use the plains in a Sentence
–adjective
1. clear or distinct to the eye or ear: a plain trail to the river; to stand in plain view.
2. clear to the mind; evident, manifest, or obvious: to make one's meaning plain.
3. conveying the meaning clearly and simply; easily understood: plain talk.
4. downright; sheer; utter; self-evident: plain folly; plain stupidity.
5. free from ambiguity or evasion; candid; outspoken: the plain truth of the matter.
6. without special pretensions, superiority, elegance, etc.; ordinary: plain people.
7. not beautiful; physically unattractive or undistinguished: a plain face.
8. without intricacies or difficulties.
9. ordinary, simple, or unostentatious: Although she was a duchess, her manners were attractively plain.
10. with little or no embellishment, decoration, or enhancing elaboration: a plain blue suit.
11. without a pattern, figure, or device: a plain fabric.
12. not rich, highly seasoned, or elaborately prepared, as food: a plain diet.
13. flat or level: plain country.
14. unobstructed, clear, or open, as ground, a space, etc.
15. Cards. being other than a face card or a trump.
–adverb
16. clearly and simply: He's just plain stupid.
–noun
17. an area of land not significantly higher than adjacent areas and with relatively minor differences in elevation, commonly less than 500 ft. (150 m), within the area.
18. The Plains. Great Plains.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME (adj., adv., and n.) < OF (adj. and n.) < L plānus flat, level, plānum flat country

Related forms:
plainly, adverb
plainness, noun

Synonyms:
1, 2. lucid, understandable, intelligible, unmistakable, apparent, perspicuous. 2, 3. unambiguous, unequivocal, patent, transparent; direct. 5. unreserved, straightforward, blunt, frank, ingenuous, open, sincere. 6. unpretentious. 10. unadorned. See homely.

Antonyms:
1. indistinct. 2. obscure. 13. hilly.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

plain  (n.)
"level country," 1297 (originally in ref. to Salisbury Plain), from O.Fr. plain, from L. planum "level ground, plain," properly neut. of adj. planus "flat, even, level" ((see plane (1)). L. planum was used for "level ground" but much more common was campus. Plains of the American Midwest first so called 1684.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Science Dictionary
plain   (plān)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. An extensive, relatively level area of land. Plains are present on all continents except Antarctica and are most often located in the interior regions. Because they can occur at almost any altitude or latitude, plains can be humid and forested, semiarid and grass-covered, or arid.

  2. A broad, level expanse, such as an area of the sea floor or a lunar mare.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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