1plain 
/ˈpleɪn/ adjective
plain·er; plain·est /ˈpleɪn/ adjective [also more plain; most plain] 1 : having no pattern or decoration
▪ Her dress was plain. ▪ a plain fabric ▪ It was a plain room with no curtains. ▪ She was wearing plain black shoes. ▪ He printed the picture on plain paper. 2 : not having any added or extra things
▪ a glass of plain [=pure] water ▪ a piece of plain chicken ▪ plain yogurt ▪ You don't have to call me Mr. Johnson—just plain Fred will be fine. ▪ (Brit) The recipe calls for 250 grams of plain flour. [=(US) all-purpose flour] 3 : easy to see or understand
▪ It's plain to see [=it's obvious] that you don't like dogs. ▪ You should have made it plain [=clear] to us what you were planning to do. ▪ What he said is a lie, plain and simple. ▪ The evidence makes it plain [=clearly shows] that he is guilty. ▪ The answer is (as) plain as day. = The answer is as plain as the nose on your face. [=the answer is very obvious] 4 : simple and honest
▪ The senator was known for his plain speaking. ▪ Let me say it in plain English: you're fired. 5 always used before a noun : complete and total
▪ His motive was plain [=pure, sheer] greed. ▪ The lawyer stated the plain facts of the case. ▪ Her story is the plain truth. 6 : not unusual or special in any way : ordinary
▪ We're just plain, hardworking people. ▪ plain common sense ▪ (US) I'm just a plain old country boy. ▪ (US) All kinds of people attended the event, including politicians, celebrities, and just plain folks. [=ordinary people] 7 : not handsome or beautiful
▪ She's really kind of plain. ▪ She describes herself as a plain Jane. [=a woman who is ordinary looking and not beautiful or glamorous]
▪ Her dress was plain. ▪ a plain fabric ▪ It was a plain room with no curtains. ▪ She was wearing plain black shoes. ▪ He printed the picture on plain paper.
▪ a glass of plain [=pure] water ▪ a piece of plain chicken ▪ plain yogurt ▪ You don't have to call me Mr. Johnson—just plain Fred will be fine. ▪ (Brit) The recipe calls for 250 grams of plain flour. [=(US) all-purpose flour]
▪ It's plain to see [=it's obvious] that you don't like dogs. ▪ You should have made it plain [=clear] to us what you were planning to do. ▪ What he said is a lie, plain and simple. ▪ The evidence makes it plain [=clearly shows] that he is guilty. ▪ The answer is (as) plain as day. = The answer is as plain as the nose on your face. [=the answer is very obvious]
▪ The senator was known for his plain speaking. ▪ Let me say it in plain English: you're fired.
▪ His motive was plain [=pure, sheer] greed. ▪ The lawyer stated the plain facts of the case. ▪ Her story is the plain truth.
▪ We're just plain, hardworking people. ▪ plain common sense ▪ (US) I'm just a plain old country boy. ▪ (US) All kinds of people attended the event, including politicians, celebrities, and just plain folks. [=ordinary people]
▪ She's really kind of plain. ▪ She describes herself as a plain Jane. [=a woman who is ordinary looking and not beautiful or glamorous]
in plain sight or in plain view
chiefly US : in a place that is easily seen
▪ He carried his gun in plain sight.
▪ He carried his gun in plain sight.
plain clothes
: the ordinary clothes of a police officer who is not wearing a uniform
▪ The officer was wearing plain clothes. [=the officer was not in uniform] — see also plainclothes
▪ The officer was wearing plain clothes. [=the officer was not in uniform] — see also plainclothes
plain sailing — see sailing
— plain·ly adverb
▪ The camp is for kids who like sports, which he plainly [=obviously, definitely] does. ▪ The star was plainly [=clearly] visible in the sky toward the north. ▪ The book states quite plainly [=openly, simply] that he was part of the plot. ▪ She always dresses plainly.
▪ The camp is for kids who like sports, which he plainly [=obviously, definitely] does. ▪ The star was plainly [=clearly] visible in the sky toward the north. ▪ The book states quite plainly [=openly, simply] that he was part of the plot. ▪ She always dresses plainly.
— plain·ness noun [noncount]
▪ the plainness of her clothes
▪ the plainness of her clothes
