simple

English Online Dictionary. What means simple‎? What does simple mean?

English

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English symple, simple, from Old French and French simple, from Latin simplex (“simple”, literally “onefold”) (as opposed to duplex (“double”, literally “twofold”)), from semel (“the same”) + plicō (“I fold”). See same and fold. Compare single, singular, simultaneous, etc.

Partially displaced native English onefold.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɪmpəl/, [ˈsɪmpl̩]
• (Indic) IPA^(key): /ˈsimpɨl/
  • (Tanglish, Malayalam, dialectal) IPA^(key): [ˈsimbɨɭ]
    • Homophone: symbol
• Rhymes: -ɪmpəl
• Hyphenation: sim‧ple

Adjective

simple (comparative simpler or more simple, superlative simplest or most simple)

2. Uncomplicated; lacking complexity; taken by itself, with nothing added.

   Synonyms: onefold; see also Thesaurus:bare-bones

   Antonym: subtle
4. Easy; not difficult.

   Synonyms: basic, trivial; see also Thesaurus:easy

   Antonyms: challenging, hard; see also Thesaurus:difficult
5. Without ornamentation; plain.

   Synonyms: austere, plain; see also Thesaurus:unadorned

   Antonyms: flashy, tinselly; see also Thesaurus:gaudy

6. Free from duplicity; guileless, innocent, straightforward.

   Synonyms: sincere, unaffected; see also Thesaurus:honest, Thesaurus:naive

   Antonyms: crafty, guileful; see also Thesaurus:wily
7. Undistinguished in social condition; of no special rank.

   Synonyms: common, low-born, ordinary, vulgar

   Antonyms: eminent, gentle, notable, highborn, well-born
8. (archaic) Trivial; insignificant.

   Synonyms: inconsequential; see also Thesaurus:insignificant

   Antonyms: significant; see also Thesaurus:important
9. (now colloquial, euphemistic) Feeble-minded; foolish.

   Synonyms: dim-witted, unwise; see also Thesaurus:foolish, Thesaurus:stupid

   Antonyms: astute, quick-witted; see also Thesaurus:wise

10. (heading, technical) Structurally uncomplicated.

    Synonyms: basic, plain, uncomplex, uncomplicated

    Antonyms: complex, compound, complicated

    1. (chemistry, pharmacology) Consisting of one single substance; uncompounded.
    2. (algebra, loosely, of an algebraic structure) Being non-trivial, and admitting no proper non-trivial quotients.
       1. (group theory, of a group) Being non-trivial, and having no proper non-trivial normal subgroups (equivalently, no proper non-trivial quotient groups).
       2. (module theory, of a module) Being non-trivial, and having no proper non-trivial submodules (equivalently, no proper non-trivial quotient modules).
       3. (ring theory, of a ring) Being non-zero, and having no proper non-zero two-sided ideals (equivalently, no proper non-trivial quotient rings). For commutative rings, this definition coincides with that of a field.
       4. (universal algebra, of an algebraic structure) Containing more than one element, and such that the only congruences on the structure are the diagonal relation (the equivalence relation ${displaystyle a\equiv b\iff a=b}$) and the universal relation (the equivalence relation such that ${displaystyle a\equiv b}$ for all ${displaystyle a,b}$). Equivalently, containing more than one element and having no proper non-trivial quotient algebras.
       5. (category theory, of an object in a category with a terminal object) Being non-isomorphic to the terminal object, and such that its only quotient objects (up to isomorphism) are the terminal object and itself.
    3. (algebra, of a Lie algebra) Being non-abelian and having no proper non-zero ideals. (Note that this is non-equivalent to the usual algebra sense; in particular, the abelian Lie algebra of dimension 1 over any given field is non-trivial and has no proper non-zero ideals, but is by convention not considered simple.)
    4. (mathematics, real analysis, measure theory, of a real-valued function) Equal to a finite linear combination of indicator functions on measurable sets.
    5. (botany) Not compound, but possibly lobed.
    6. Using steam only once in its cylinders, in contrast to a compound engine, where steam is used more than once in high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders. (of a steam engine)
    7. (zoology) Consisting of a single individual or zooid; not compound.

    8. (mineralogy) Homogenous.
11. (obsolete) Mere; not other than; being only.

    Synonyms: alone, mere, only, very

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

simple (plural simples)

1. (pharmacology) A herbal preparation made from one plant, as opposed to something made from more than one plant.
2. (obsolete, by extension) A physician.
3. (logic) A simple or atomic proposition.
4. (obsolete) Something not mixed or compounded.
5. (weaving) A drawloom.
6. (weaving) Part of the apparatus for raising the heddles of a drawloom.
7. (Roman Catholicism) A feast which is not a double or a semidouble.

Translations

Verb

simple (third-person singular simple present simples, present participle simpling, simple past and past participle simpled)

1. (transitive, intransitive, archaic) To gather simples, i.e. medicinal herbs.

Derived terms

Anagrams

• LEMSIP, impels

Asturian

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin simplex.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsimple/ [ˈsĩm.ple]
• Rhymes: -imple
• Syllabification: sim‧ple

Adjective

simple (epicene, plural simples)

1. simple (uncomplicated)

   Synonym: cenciellu

Bikol Central

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish simple.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsimple/ [ˈsim.pl̪e]
• Hyphenation: sim‧ple

Adjective

símple (intensified simplehon, Basahan spelling ᜐᜒᜋ᜔ᜉ᜔ᜎᜒ)

1. simple, plain
2. unadorned
3. easy

   Synonyms: madali, pasil

Derived terms

Related terms

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin simplex.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central, Balearic) [ˈsim.plə]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [ˈsim.ple]

Adjective

simple m or f (masculine and feminine plural simples)

1. simple (uncomplicated)

   Synonym: senzill

2. single (not divided into parts)

Derived terms

• fulla simple (“simple leaf”)
• simplement (“simply”)

Related terms

• símplex (“simplex”)
• simplicitat (“simplicity”)
• ximple

Further reading

• “simple”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], 2007 April
• “simple” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.
• “simple”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2025.

Chavacano

Etymology

Inherited from Spanish simple (“simple”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsimple/, [ˈsĩm.ple]
• Hyphenation: sim‧ple

Adjective

simple

1. simple

Esperanto

Etymology

From simpla +‎ -e.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsimple/
• Rhymes: -imple
• Hyphenation: sim‧ple

Adverb

simple

1. simply

French

Etymology

Inherited from Old French, borrowed from Latin simplex.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sɛ̃pl/

Adjective

simple (plural simples)

1. single

   comptabilité en partie simple ― single-entry bookkeeping

2. simple, straightforward, easy

   Antonyms: complexe, compliqué

   Near-synonym: facile

   simple comme bonjour ― easy as pie

3. simple, plain, unsophisticated

   un homme simple ― a simple man

4. (grammar) synthetic; non analytic

   Coordinate terms: composé, antérieur

   futur simple ― simple future

   passé simple ― past historic tense (literally, “simple past”)

5. (grammar)

   Coordinate term: complexe

   phrase simple ― simple sentence

6. (chemistry) simple, uncompounded

   Coordinate term: composé

   corps simple ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)

7. one-way

   un aller simple ― a one-way ticket

   un billet simple ― a one-way ticket

8. mere

   un simple soldat ― a mere soldier

Derived terms

Derived terms

• simplet
• simplement
• simplicité
• simplifier

Descendants

• → Romanian: simplu

Noun

simple m (plural simples)

1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {}.

   passer du simple au double ― to double

   passer du simple au triple ― to triple

2. (baseball) single

Further reading

• “simple”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Anagrams

• emplis

Galician

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin simplex. Displaced Old Galician-Portuguese simplez.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsimple/ [ˈs̺im.plɪ]
• Rhymes: -imple
• Hyphenation: sim‧ple

Adjective

simple m or f (plural simples)

1. simple

   Synonym: sinxelo

German

Pronunciation

Adjective

simple

1. inflection of simpel:
   1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
   2. strong nominative/accusative plural
   3. weak nominative all-gender singular
   4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

Latin

Adjective

simple

1. vocative masculine singular of simplus

Middle English

Adjective

simple

1. Alternative form of symple

Noun

simple

1. Alternative form of symple

Mirandese

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈs̺ĩ.plɨ/

Adjective

simple m or f (masculine and feminine plural simples)

1. simple

Derived terms

References

• Moisés, Pires (2004) “simple”, in Pequeno vocabulário Mirandês-Português [Small Mirandese-Portuguese Vocabulary], 2nd edition, Miranda do Douro: Câmara Municipal de Miranda do Douro, published 2019, →ISBN, page 478.

Norwegian Bokmål

Adjective

simple

1. definite singular of simpel
2. plural of simpel

Norwegian Nynorsk

Adjective

simple

1. definite singular of simpel
2. plural of simpel

Old French

Alternative forms

• sinple

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin simplex.

Adjective

simple m (oblique and nominative feminine singular simple)

1. innocent
2. mere; simple
3. honest; without pretense
4. peasant, pauper (attributive)

Descendants

• French: simple
  • → Romanian: simplu
• → Middle English: symple, simple
  • Scots: semple
  • English: simple

Romanian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈsim.ple]

Adjective

simple

1. feminine/neuter plural nominative/accusative of simplu

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin simplex.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsimple/ [ˈsĩm.ple]
• Rhymes: -imple
• Syllabification: sim‧ple

Adjective

simple m or f (masculine and feminine plural simples)

1. simple (uncomplicated)

   Synonym: sencillo

   Antonym: complejo

2. (before the noun) mere, ordinary

   Synonym: mero

   Soy un simple pescador. ― I'm just a fisherman.

3. simple, single (not divided into parts)

   Antonym: compuesto

4. simple-minded, stupid
5. insipid, flavorless

   Synonym: soso

6. (grammar) simple

Usage notes

• A way to think of the difference between simple and sencillo, which both mean "simple" in English, is that the antonym of simple is complejo (“complex”), whereas the antonym of sencillo is complicado (“complicated”).

Derived terms

Descendants

• Chavacano: simple

Noun

simple m or f by sense (plural simples)

1. simpleton, fool

   Synonym: bobo

Noun

simple m (plural simples)

1. (pharmacology) simple

See also

• más simple que el mecanismo de un botijo

Further reading

• “simple”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2024 December 10

Swedish

Adjective

simple

1. definite natural masculine singular of simpel

Anagrams

• simpel

Tagalog

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish simple, from Latin simplex.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈsimple/ [ˈsim.plɛ]
• Rhymes: -imple
• Syllabification: sim‧ple

Adjective

simple (Baybayin spelling ᜐᜒᜋ᜔ᜉ᜔ᜎᜒ)

1. simple; easy to do

   Synonyms: payak, yano, liso
2. common; ordinary

   Synonyms: karaniwan, pangkaraniwan

3. easy to understand
4. simple; plain

   Synonym: payak

5. (grammar) simple

   Synonym: payak

Derived terms

Related terms

Further reading

• “simple”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, Manila, 2018