explanation

Noun
  1. A statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc. (synset 106751030)
    "the explanation was very simple"; "I expected a brief account"
    is a type of: statement - a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc
    subtypes:
    • simplification - an explanation that omits superfluous details and reduces complexity
    • accounting - a convincing explanation that reveals basic causes
    • reason - an explanation of the cause of some phenomenon
    • 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
    • explication - a detailed explanation of the meaning of something
    • gloss, rubric - an explanation or definition of an obscure word in a text
    • derivation, deriving, etymologizing - (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
    • walk-through - a thorough explanation (usually accompanied by a demonstration) of each step in a procedure or process
    has:
    • 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
    same as: account
  2. Thought that makes something comprehensible (synset 105801008)
    is a type of: cerebration, intellection, mentation, thinking, thought, thought process - the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
    subtypes:
    • interpretation, interpreting, rendering, rendition - an explanation of something that is not immediately obvious
    • principle, rationale - (law) an explanation of the fundamental reasons (especially an explanation of the working of some device in terms of laws of nature)
    • key - something crucial for explaining
    • rationalisation, rationalization - 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
    has: base, basis, cornerstone, foundation, fundament, groundwork - the fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or developed or calculated or explained
  3. The act of explaining;
    Making something plain or intelligible (synset 107247081)
    "I heard his explanation of the accident"
    is a type of: speech act - the use of language to perform some act
    subtypes:
    • 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.

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