plain

Pronunciation: /pleɪn/

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: A2 — Elementary

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun extensive tract of level open land
  2. noun a basic knitting stitch
  3. verb express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness

Etymology

From Middle English pleyn, borrowed from Anglo-Norman pleyn, playn, Middle French plain, plein, and Old French plain, from Latin plānus (“flat, even, level, plain”). Doublet of llano, piano, and plane.

In classic literature

Synonyms

field, champaign

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
land
Narrower (hyponyms)
flat, moor, llano, snowfield, tundra, peneplain

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