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explanation

   Also found in: Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
ex·pla·na·tion  (kspl-nshn)
n.
1. The act or process of explaining: launched into a detailed explanation.
2. Something that explains: That was supposedly the explanation for their misdeeds.
3. A mutual clarification of misunderstandings; a reconciliation.

explanation [ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən]
n
1. the act or process of explaining
2. a statement or occurrence that explains
3. a clarification of disputed terms or points; reconciliation
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.explanationexplanation - 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"
statement - a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc; "according to his statement he was in London on that day"
explanandum, explicandum - (logic) a statement of something (a fact or thing or expression) to be explained
explanans - (logic) statements that explain the explicandum; the explanatory premises
simplification - an explanation that omits superfluous details and reduces complexity
accounting - a convincing explanation that reveals basic causes; "he was unable to give a clear accounting for his actions"
reason - an explanation of the cause of some phenomenon; "the reason a steady state was never reached was that the back pressure built up too slowly"
justification - a statement in explanation of some action or belief
exposition - an account that sets forth the meaning or intent of a writing or discourse; "we would have understood the play better if there had been some initial exposition of the background"
explication - a detailed explanation of the meaning of something
gloss, rubric - an explanation or definition of an obscure word in a text
deriving, etymologizing, derivation - (historical linguistics) an explanation of the historical origins of a word or phrase
definition - a concise explanation of the meaning of a word or phrase or symbol
interpretation - an explanation that results from interpreting something; "the report included his interpretation of the forensic evidence"
walk-through - a thorough explanation (usually accompanied by a demonstration) of each step in a procedure or process; "she gave me a walk-through of my new duties"
2.explanationexplanation - thought that makes something comprehensible
interpreting, rendering, rendition, interpretation - an explanation of something that is not immediately obvious; "the edict was subject to many interpretations"; "he annoyed us with his interpreting of parables"; "often imitations are extended to provide a more accurate rendition of the child's intended meaning"
cerebration, intellection, mentation, thinking, thought process, thought - the process of using your mind to consider something carefully; "thinking always made him frown"; "she paused for thought"
rationale, principle - (law) an explanation of the fundamental reasons (especially an explanation of the working of some device in terms of laws of nature); "the rationale for capital punishment"; "the principles of internal-combustion engines"
cornerstone, fundament, groundwork, basis, foundation, base - the fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or developed or calculated or explained; "the whole argument rested on a basis of conjecture"
key - something crucial for explaining; "the key to development is economic integration"
rationalization, rationalisation - the cognitive process of making something seem consistent with or based on reason
theory - a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena; "theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses"; "true in fact and theory"
3.explanationexplanation - the act of explaining; making something plain or intelligible; "I heard his explanation of the accident"
speech act - the use of language to perform some act
elucidation - an act of explaining that serves to clear up and cast light on
explication - the act of making clear or removing obscurity from the meaning of a word or symbol or expression etc.

explanation
noun
1. reason, meaning, cause, sense, answer, account, excuse, motive, justification, vindication, mitigation, the why and wherefore The president has given no explanation for his behaviour.
Translations
explanation [ˌekspləˈneɪʃən] N (= act, statement) → explicación f; [of plan] → explicación f, exposición f; [of problem, mystery] → aclaración f; (= excuse) → disculpa f
what is the explanation of this?¿cómo se explica esto?
there must be some explanationtiene que haber alguna explicación
to offer or give an explanationdar explicaciones
they gave no explanation for the delayno dieron ninguna explicación por el retraso

explanation [ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən] nexplication f
explanation for sth → explication à qch
to find an explanation for sth → trouver une explication à qch
an explanation of sth → une explication de qch

explanation
n
Erklärung f; (of motives, situation, thoughts)Erläuterung f, → Erklärung f; (of mystery)Aufklärung f; it needs some/a little explanationes bedarf einer Erklärung/einer kurzen Erklärung, man muss das etwas/ein wenig erklären; he gave a long explanation of what he meanter erklärte lange, was er meinte; what is the explanation of this?wie ist das zu erklären?
(= justification)Erklärung f, → Rechtfertigung f; has he anything to say in explanation of his conduct?kann er irgendetwas zur Erklärung seines Verhaltens vorbringen?

explanation [ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃn] nspiegazione f
to find an explanation for sth → trovare una spiegazione per qc
what have you to say in explanation? → qual è la sua giustificazione?
explanation [ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃn] nspiegazione f
to find an explanation for sth → trovare una spiegazione per qc
what have you to say in explanation? → qual è la sua giustificazione?

explanation شَرح vysvětlení forklaring Erklärung εξήγηση explicación selitys explication objašenjenje spiegazione 説明 설명 uitleg forklaring objaśnienie explicação объяснение förklaring คำอธิบาย açıklama lời giải thích 解释


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
I say nothing about the more serious matters which engaged my attention on that day--the anonymous letter to Miss Fairlie, the measures I thought it right to adopt when the matter was mentioned to me, and the conviction I entertained that every possible explanation of the circumstances would be readily afforded by Sir Percival Glyde, having all been fully noticed, as I understand, in the narrative which precedes this.
He called him into his room (I happened to be looking through a crack in the partition-wall), and had an explanation with him in the way that a gentleman should--noone except myself being a witness of the scene; whereas, in my own case, I had no explanation at all.
My poor mother was evidently as far from being satisfied with her own shallow explanation as I was.
 
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