To make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity; to illustrate the meaning of.
The issue was explained to the governor in detail.
To give the reason for, justification for, or cause of.
It is tempting to speculate about the incentives or compulsions that might explain why anyone would take to the skies in [the] basket [of a balloon]: perhaps out of a desire to escape the gravity of this world or to get a preview of the next; […].
To make flat, smooth out.
From Middle English explanen, from Old French explaner, from Latin explanō (“I flatten, spread out, make plain or clear, explain”), from ex- (“out”) + planō (“I flatten, make level”), from planus (“le...
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