explanation

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. The act or process of explaining: launched into a detailed explanation.
2. n. Something that explains: That was supposedly the explanation for their misdeeds.
3. n. A mutual clarification of misunderstandings; a reconciliation.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. The act of explaining. The act or process of making plain or clear the nature, meaning, or significance of something; the act of rendering intelligible what was before obscure, as by analysis or description; elucidation; interpretation: as, the explanation of a passage in Scripture, or of a contract or treaty.
2. n. The process of showing by reasoning or investigation the causal or logical antecedents or conditions of some thing or event which is to be accounted for; specifically, the making clear by reasoning how certain observed or admitted facts may have been brought about by the action of known principles, if a certain supposition is allowed; the unification of a confused mass of facts, by means of a single known or supposed fact from which they would all necessarily or probably result.
3. n. That which is adduced as explaining or seeming to explain; specifically, a meaning or interpretation assigned; the sense given by an expounder or interpreter.
4. n. An inquiry into language used, actions, or motives, with a view to adjust a misunderstanding and reconcile differences; hence, reconciliation or reëstablishment of good understanding between persons who have been at variance.
5. n. Synonyms Explication, elucidation, description.

Wiktionary

1. n. The act or process of explaining
2. n. Something that explains, makes understandable
3. n. euphemistic An excuse, apologetic justification not based on enough evidence

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. The act of explaining, expounding, or interpreting; the act of clearing from obscurity and making intelligible.
2. n. That which explains or makes clear.
3. n. The meaning attributed to anything by one who explains it; definition; interpretation; sense.
4. n. A mutual exposition of terms, meaning, or motives, with a view to adjust a misunderstanding, and reconcile differences; reconciliation; agreement.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
2. n. thought that makes something comprehensible
3. n. the act of explaining; making something plain or intelligible