Plain | Mean of plain in English Dictionary

/ˈpleɪn/

• having no pattern or decoration
1. Her dress was plain.
2. a plain fabric
3. It was a plain room with no curtains.
4. She was wearing plain black shoes.
5. He printed the picture on plain paper.
• not having any added or extra things
1. a glass of plain [=pure] water
2. a piece of plain chicken
3. plain yogurt
4. You don't have to call me Mr. Johnson—just plain Fred will be fine.
5. (Brit) The recipe calls for 250 grams of plain flour. [=(US) all-purpose flour]
• easy to see or understand
1. It's plain to see [=it's obvious] that you don't like dogs.
2. You should have made it plain [=clear] to us what you were planning to do.
3. What he said is a lie, plain and simple.
4. The evidence makes it plain [=clearly shows] that he is guilty.
5. The answer is (as) plain as day. = The answer is as plain as the nose on your face. [=the answer is very obvious]

• simple and honest
1. The senator was known for his plain speaking.
2. Let me say it in plain English: you're fired.
• complete and total
1. His motive was plain [=pure, sheer] greed.
2. The lawyer stated the plain facts of the case.
3. Her story is the plain truth.
• not unusual or special in any way
1. We're just plain, hardworking people.
2. plain common sense
3. (US) I'm just a plain old country boy.
4. (US) All kinds of people attended the event, including politicians, celebrities, and just plain folks. [=ordinary people]
• not handsome or beautiful
1. She's really kind of plain.
2. She describes herself as a plain Jane. [=a woman who is ordinary looking and not beautiful or glamorous]
• in a place that is easily seen
1. He carried his gun in plain sight.
• the ordinary clothes of a police officer who is not wearing a uniform
1. The officer was wearing plain clothes. [=the officer was not in uniform]
• Noun
• a large area of flat land without trees
1. the Spanish plain
2. the Great Plains of the United States
• truly or completely
1. Her answer was misleading, if not plain dishonest.
2. She plain forgot to call me.
3. You are just plain wrong.