different between represent vs explain

English

Etymology 1

From Old French représenter, from Latin repraesent?.

Alternative forms

• repræsent (archaic)

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /??p.??.?z?nt/

Verb

represent (third-person singular simple present represents, present participle representing, simple past and past participle represented)

1. (transitive) To present again or anew; to present by means of something standing in the place of; to exhibit the counterpart or image of; to typify.
2. (transitive) To portray visually; to delineate

3. (transitive) To portray by mimicry or acting; to act the part or character of

   Synonym: play

4. (transitive) To stand or act in the place of; to perform the duties, exercise the rights, or otherwise act on behalf of

5. (politics, transitive) To act as a representative of (a country, state, district etc.)

6. (transitive) To portray to another using language; to show; to give one's own impressions and judgement of

7. (transitive) To give an account of; to describe.
8. (transitive) To serve as a sign or symbol of
9. (transitive) To bring a certain sensation of into the mind; to cause to be known, felt, or apprehended; to present.
10. (transitive) To form or image again in consciousness, as an object of cognition or apprehension (something presentative, which was originally apprehended by direct presentation).
11. (transitive) To constitute, to make up, to be an example of.
12. (sports, transitive) To participate as a team member
13. (intransitive, African-American Vernacular) To constitute a good example or symbol of a group of people; to acquit oneself well.
    • 1999, Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg, Still D.R.E.

      I'm representing for the gangsters all across the world.

      Still hitting them corners in them low lows girl.

Synonyms

• (to constitute): form, make up; see also Thesaurus:compose

Derived terms

• under-represent, underrepresent

Related terms

• representability
• representable
• representation
• representative

Translations

Etymology 2

re- +? present.

Alternative forms

• re-present

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?i(?).p??.?z?nt/

Verb

represent (third-person singular simple present represents, present participle representing, simple past and past participle represented)

1. (medicine) To present again, for instance for medical attention.

Related terms

• representation

Further reading

• represent in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• represent in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• represent at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• presenter, repenters

English

Etymology

From Middle English explanen, from Old French explaner, from Latin explan? (“I flatten, spread out, make plain or clear, explain”), from ex- (“out”) + plan? (“I flatten, make level”), from planus (“level, plain”); see plain and plane. Compare esplanade, splanade. Displaced Old English ?ere??an.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?k?sple?n/, /?k?sple?n/
• Rhymes: -e?n

Verb

explain (third-person singular simple present explains, present participle explaining, simple past and past participle explained)

1. To make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity; to illustrate the meaning of.
2. To give a valid excuse for past behavior.
3. (obsolete) To make flat, smooth out.
4. (obsolete) To unfold or make visible.
   • April 14, 1684, John Evelyn, a letter sent to the Royal Society concerning the damage done to his gardens by the preceding winter

     The horse-chestnut is […] ready to explain its leaf.

5. (intransitive) To make something plain or intelligible.

Synonyms

• (give a sufficiently detailed report): expound, elaborate, recce

Derived terms

• afore-explained
• explain away
• explainer
• mansplain
• please explain
• -splain

Related terms

• explanation
• explanatory

Translations

Further reading

• explain in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• explain in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• explain at OneLook Dictionary Search