to make plain or clear; render understandable or intelligible

to explain an obscure point.

to make known in detail

to explain how to do something.

to assign a meaning to; interpret

How can you explain such a silly remark?

to make clear the cause or reason of; account for

I cannot explain his strange behavior.

to give an explanation. ?

explain away,

to diminish or nullify the significance of by explanation

He couldn't explain away his absence from home at the time the robbery was committed.

to dispel (doubts, difficulties, etc.) by explanation

She explained away the child's fears.

adjective

accountable , intelligible , understandable , decipherable , explicable , illustratable , interpretable