Basic Details
Word: Explaine
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To make something clear or easy to understand by describing or giving more details about it.
Synonyms: Clarify, elucidate, simplify
Antonyms: Confuse, obscure, complicate
Idioms and Phrases
- Explain the unexplainable: To give a reason or understanding about something that seems confusing or mysterious. Example: "The scientist tried to explain the unexplainable phenomena of lightning."
- Explain away: To try to make something seem less serious or to remove blame by giving reasons. Example: "He tried to explain away his mistake by saying he was tired."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The teacher took time to explain the difficult math problem so that all the students could understand it.
Example 2: She used diagrams to explain her ideas to the class, making everything clearer.
Example 3: The guide will explain the history of the castle while we explore its rooms.
Fun Fact
The word "explain" comes from the Latin word "explanare," which means "to make plain or clear." This shows how important the concept of clarity has been in communication throughout history.
Famous Quote
"The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak." Hans Hofmann
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "explain" mean?
a) To confuse someone
b) To make something clear
c) To distract someone
d) To ignore a question
Answer: b) To make something clear
2. Which of these is a synonym for "explain"?
a) Complicate
b) Obscure
c) Clarify
d) Confuse
Answer: c) Clarify
3. What is an antonym of "explain"?
a) Make clear
b) Confuse
c) Simplify
d) Illustrate
Answer: b) Confuse
4. Which sentence uses "explain" correctly?
a) The teacher will explain the lesson tomorrow.
b) She wanted to explain the song to her friend.
c) He explained the joke quietly.
d) All of the above.
Answer: d) All of the above.
5. Which idiom means to clarify something?
a) Explain the unexplainable
b) Jumping to conclusions
c) The elephant in the room
d) A bird in the hand
Answer: a) Explain the unexplainable
