explanation
NounOpen English WordNet
Noun (3)explanations
- a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.“the explanation was very simple”“I expected a brief account”Synonyms: accountType of statementKinds reason, definition, justification, accounting, interpretation, deriving, walk-through, gloss, simplification, exposition +1 moreParts explicandum, explanans
- thought that makes something comprehensibleType of thinking, thoughtKinds theory, rationale, key, interpretation, rationalizationParts basis, base
- the act of explaining; making something plain or intelligible“I heard his explanation of the accident”Type of speech actKinds elucidation, explication
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: L. explanatio: cf. OF. esplanation.
1. The act of explaining, expounding, or interpreting; the act of clearing from obscurity and making intelligible; as, the explanation of a passage in Scripture, or of a contract or treaty.
2. That which explains or makes clear; as, a satisfactory explanation.
3. The meaning attributed to anything by one who explains it; definition; interpretation; sense.
Different explanations [of the Trinity].— Bp. Gilbert Burnet
4. A mutual exposition of terms, meaning, or motives, with a view to adjust a misunderstanding, and reconcile differences; reconciliation; agreement; as, to come to an explanation.
Synonyms: Definition; description; explication; exposition; interpretation; detail. See Definition.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54