explain

v. illustrate, elucidate, interpret, describe

An explanation is a statement which points to causes, , and consequences of some object, process, state of affairs, etc., together with rules or laws that link these to the object. Some of these of the explanation may be implicit. Explanations can only be given by those with understanding of the object which is explained. In scientific research, explanation is one of three purposes of research (the other two being exploration and description). Explanation is the discovery and reporting of relationships among different aspects of studied phenomena.
See more at Wikipedia.org...

(v. i.)
To give an explanation.
  

(a.)
To make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity; to expound; to unfold and illustrate the meaning of; as, to explain a chapter of the Bible.
  

(a.)
To flatten; to spread out; to unfold; to expand.
  

Verb
1. make palin and comprehensible; "He explained the laws of physics to his students"
(synonym) explicate
(hypernym) inform
(hyponym) interpret
(derivation) explanation
2. define; "The committe explained their plan for fund-raising to the Dean"
(hypernym) state, say, tell
(derivation) explanation, account
3. serve as a reason or cause or justification of; "Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at work"; "Her recent divorce amy explain her reluctance to date again"
(synonym) excuse
(hypernym) justify, vindicate
(hyponym) alibi
(derivation) explanation