If you explain something, you give details about it or describe it so that it can be understood.

ex·plain| ikˈsplān | verb [reporting verb]

make (an idea, situation, or problem) clear to someone by describing it in more detail or
revealing relevant facts or ideas: [with clause] :  they explained that their lives centered on the
religious rituals | [with object] :  he explained the situation | [with direct speech] :  “my daddy
has spells,” Ben explained. 

• account for (an action or event) by giving a reason as excuse or

justification: [with object] :  Callie found it necessary to explain her blackened
eye | [with clause] :  he makes athletes explain why they made a mistake | [no object] :  she
had tried to explain about Adam, hadn't she? 

• [with object] be the cause of or motivating factor for: her father's violence explains her
pacificism | [with clause] :  this would explain why so many adult children still live with their
parents. 

• (explain something away) minimize the significance of an embarrassing fact or action by

giving an excuse or justification: they know stories about me that I can't explain
away. PHRASES explain oneself expand on what one has said in order to make one's meaning
clear. 

• give an account of one's motives or conduct in order to excuse or justify oneself: he was too
panicked to stay and explain himself to the policeman. 

The culinary student was learning how to cook for a restaurant. She listened as the professional
chef explained how to wash and chop parsley.

Everyone knows something they could teach another person. What would you choose to
explain to someone else?

The teacher will explain how to do the math problem by explaining every step in the strategy.
The explanation must be clear and easy to understand.