A simple cardboard box.
- Simple is defined as having only one or a few parts, easy to understand or not complicated.
- An example of simple is a cardboard box.
- An example of simple is the math problem 1+1.
- An example of simple is a plain black dress.
- The definition of a simple is an easily misled person or an ignorant person.
An example of simple is someone who does not take precautions in dangerous situations.
simple
- having or consisting of only one part, feature, substance, etc.; not compounded or complex; single
- having few parts or features; not complicated or involved: a simple pattern
- easy to do, solve, or understand, as a task, question, etc.
- without additions or qualifications; mere; bare: the simple facts
- not ornate; unembellished; unadorned: simple clothes
- not luxurious or elegant; plain: simple tastes
- pure; unadulterated
- without guile or deceit; innocent; artless
- without ostentation or affectation; natural
- lacking sophistication; naive
- of low rank or position; specif.,
- humble; lowly
- common; ordinary
- lacking significance; unimportant
- having or showing little sense or reasoning ability; easily misled or deceived; stupid or foolish
- uneducated or ignorant
- Bot.
- consisting of one piece; whole
- not branched
- developing from a single pistil or carpel: a simple fruit
- Chem.
- elementary
- unmixed
- Law unconditional; absolute: in fee simple
- Zool. not divided into or made up of parts; not compounded: a simple eye
Origin of simple
Old French ; from Classical Latin simplus ; from Indo-European an unverified form s?plos ; from bases an unverified form sem-, one + an unverified form -plo-, -fold: see double- a person who is ignorant or easily misled
- something having only one part, substance, etc.
- Archaic
- a medicinal herb
- a medicine made from such a plant
- Archaic a person of humble position
simple
adjective
sim·pler, sim·plest- a. Having few parts or features; not complicated or elaborate: a house with a simple floor plan.b. Easy to understand, do, or carry out: a simple set of instructions; a simple chore. See Synonyms at easy.c. Having or composed of only one thing, element, or part: a simple chemical substance.d. Being without additions or modifications; mere: a simple “yes” or “no.”e. Biology Having no divisions or branches; not compound: a simple leaf; a simple eye or lens.f. Music Being without figuration or elaboration: a simple tone.
- a. Having little or no ornamentation; not embellished or adorned: a simple dress. See Synonyms at plain.b. Not characterized by luxury or elaborate commitments: simple living.
- a. Not pretentious, guileful, or deceitful; humble or sincere: a simple child; told us about his achievement in the simplest manner.b. Having or showing little intelligence, education, or experience: simple people who have trouble understanding health regulations. See Synonyms at naive.c. Lowly in condition or rank: a simple woodcutter.
noun
ArchaicOrigin of simple
Middle English, from Old French, from Latin simplus; see sem-1 in Indo-European roots and from simplex; see simplex.Related Forms:
- sim′ple·ness
noun
simple
(comparative simpler, superlative simplest)
- Uncomplicated; taken by itself, with nothing added.
- Without ornamentation; plain.
- Free from duplicity; guileless, innocent, straightforward.
- Undistinguished in social condition; of no special rank.
- (now rare) Trivial; insignificant.
- (now colloquial) Feeble-minded; foolish.
- (technical) Structurally uncomplicated.
- (chemistry) Consisting of one single substance; uncompounded.
- (mathematics) Of a group: having no normal subgroup.
- (botany) Not compound, but possibly lobed.
- (zoology) Consisting of a single individual or zooid; not compound.
- a simple ascidian
- (mineralogy) Homogenous.
(plural simples)
- (medicine) A preparation made from one plant, as opposed to something made from more than one plant.
- (logic) A simple or atomic proposition.
- (weaving) A drawloom.
- (weaving) Part of the apparatus for raising the heddles of a drawloom.
- (Roman Catholic) A feast which is not a double or a semidouble.
(third-person singular simple present simples, present participle simpling, simple past and past participle simpled)
- (intransitive, archaic) To gather simples, ie, medicinal herbs.
simple - Computer Definition
(SIP for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions) Enhancements that add instant messaging and presence to the SIP protocol. Developed by the SIMPLE working group of the IETF, SIMPLE adds buddy list subscriptions and notifications and instant messaging commands. SIMPLE has two modes. Session mode, which is the more efficient mode, sets up the call and provides a raft of features including conferencing. Page mode uses no call setup and is more like a short messaging service for delivering one-shot messages and announcements. The IETF's Instant Messaging and Presence Protocol (IMPP) working group, from which the SIMPLE group was split off, focuses on helping people build gateways to SIMPLE from other IM systems. In 2001, AOL said it would support SIMPLE, but subsequently abandoned its plans. See SIP.
simple - Legal Definition
adj
- In criminal law, uncomplicated by aggravating circumstances. See also aggravated and mitigating circumstance.
- In property law, inheritable by the heirs of the owner without reservation; in contract law, not under seal. See also sealed instrument.
