Plain vs. Prairie — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 15, 2024
A plain is a large, flat expanse of land with few changes in elevation, often found in both humid and arid environments, whereas a prairie is a specific type of plain characterized by its grassland ecosystem, typically found in North America.
Difference Between Plain and Prairie
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Key Differences
Plains are expansive flat or gently undulating areas of land that can exist in various climates and are not necessarily defined by a specific type of vegetation. In contrast, prairies are specifically large areas of flat or rolling grassland predominantly found in North America, characterized by tall grasses and a temperate climate.
The vegetation in plains can vary widely from grasslands to deserts, depending on the local climate and geography. Whereas prairies are specifically dominated by grasses and few trees, mainly because of their adequate rainfall that supports grass but not forests.
Plains may be found in continental interiors, coastal regions, or at the bases of mountain ranges, showing a wide range of geographical settings. On the other hand, prairies are primarily located in the Great Plains of the United States and Canada, confined to a specific geographical and climatic zone.
Plains are often utilized for agriculture due to their fertile soils and flat terrain, making them ideal for farming and grazing. Meanwhile, prairies are particularly noted for sustainable agriculture and ranching, especially where native grasses are preserved.
The term "plain" can apply globally to any flat region, regardless of vegetation or climate. In contrast, "prairie" specifically refers to the grassland biome of North America, which supports a unique ecosystem of plants and animals adapted to its conditions.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A broad, flat, or gently rolling area of land.
A type of plain characterized by extensive grasslands in North America.
Vegetation
Can vary widely, including grassland, desert, or forest.
Dominated by tall and short grasses, with few trees.
Location
Found worldwide in various climates.
Primarily located in the Great Plains of the United States and Canada.
Climate
Can be arid, semi-arid, humid, etc.
Mostly temperate, with adequate rainfall for grass but not forests.
Usage
Diverse, including agriculture, urban development, etc.
Focused on agriculture, particularly ranching and preservation of native grasses.
Compare with Definitions
Plain
Often used in geography to describe flat terrains.
The flood plains of the river are fertile but prone to flooding.
Prairie
A large open area of grassland, especially in the Mississippi River valley.
Buffalo once roamed the prairies in large numbers.
Plain
A large area of flat land with few trees.
The Serengeti Plain is renowned for its vast wildlife.
Prairie
Supports diverse fauna adapted to grassland life.
Prairie dogs and bison are iconic species of the prairie ecosystem.
Plain
Can include various ecosystems depending on the region.
The coastal plain supports a different type of biodiversity.
Prairie
Characterized by tall grasses, suitable for grazing.
The prairie was a sea of grass waving in the wind.
Plain
An area of simple or unadorned nature.
The artist was captivated by the stark beauty of the desert plain.
Prairie
Prone to natural phenomena like wildfires.
Wildfires play a natural role in the ecology of the prairie.
Plain
Suitable for various human activities like farming.
They farmed on the rich plains of the Midwest.
Prairie
Culturally significant in American history.
The expansion into the prairie was a pivotal era in American settlement.
Plain
In geography, a plain is a flat expanse of land that generally does not change much in elevation, and are primarily treeless. Plains occur as lowlands along valleys or at the base of mountains, as coastal plains, and as plateaus or uplands.In a valley, a plain is enclosed on two sides, but in other cases a plain may be delineated by a complete or partial ring of hills, by mountains, or by cliffs.
Prairie
Prairies are ecosystems considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and a composition of grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type. Temperate grassland regions include the Pampas of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, and the steppe of Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan.
Plain
Not decorated or elaborate; simple or basic in character
Everyone dined at a plain wooden table
Good plain food
Prairie
An extensive flat or rolling area dominated by grasses, especially the grasslands that once covered much of central North America.
Plain
Having no pretensions; not remarkable or special
A plain, honest man with no nonsense about him
Prairie
An extensive area of relatively flat grassland with few, if any, trees, especially in North America.
Plain
Easy to perceive or understand; clear
The advantages were plain to see
It was plain that something was wrong
Prairie
An extensive tract of level or rolling land, destitute of trees, covered with coarse grass, and usually characterized by a deep, fertile soil. They abound throughout the Mississippi valley, between the Alleghanies and the Rocky mountains.
From the forests and the prairies,From the great lakes of the northland.
Plain
(of a person) not beautiful or attractive
A plain, round-faced woman
Prairie
A meadow or tract of grass; especially, a so called natural meadow.
Plain
Sheer; simple (used for emphasis)
The main problem is just plain exhaustion
Prairie
A treeless grassy plain
Plain
Denoting or relating to a type of knitting stitch produced by putting the needle through the front of each stitch from left to right.
Plain
Used for emphasis
Perhaps the youth was just plain stupid
Plain
Clearly or unequivocally
I'm finished with you, I'll tell you plain
Plain
A large area of flat land with few trees
The coastal plain
Plain
Mourn or lament.
Plain
Free from obstructions; open; clear
In plain view.
Plain
Obvious to the perception or mind; evident
Make one's intention plain.
Plain
Not elaborate or complicated; simple
Plain food.
Plain
Marked by little or no ornamentation or decoration
Plain garb.
Plain
Straightforward; frank or candid
Plain talk.
Plain
Not pretentious; unaffected.
Plain
Lacking beauty or distinction
A plain face.
Plain
Not mixed with other substances; pure
Plain water.
Plain
Common in rank or station; average; ordinary
A plain man.
Plain
Not dyed, twilled, or patterned
A plain fabric.
Plain
Sheer; utter; unqualified
Plain stupidity.
Plain
(Archaic) Having no visible elevation or depression; flat; level.
Plain
Often plains An extensive, level, usually treeless area of land.
Plain
A broad level expanse, as a part of the sea floor or a lunar mare.
Plain
Something free of ornamentation or extraneous matter.
Plain
Clearly; simply
Plain stubborn.
Plain
Flat, level.
Plain
Simple, unaltered.
Plain
Ordinary; lacking adornment or ornamentation; unembellished.
He was dressed simply in plain black clothes.
A plain tune
Plain
Of just one colour; lacking a pattern.
A plain pink polycotton skirt
Plain
Simple in habits or qualities; unsophisticated, not exceptional, ordinary.
They're just plain people like you or me.
Plain
(of food) Having only few ingredients, or no additional ingredients or seasonings; not elaborate, without toppings or extras.
Would you like a poppy bagel or a plain bagel?
Plain
(computing) Containing no extended or nonprinting characters (especially in plain text).
Plain
Obvious.
Plain
Evident to one's senses or reason; manifest, clear, unmistakable.
Plain
Downright; total, unmistakable (as intensifier).
His answer was just plain nonsense.
Plain
Open.
Plain
Honest and without deception; candid, open; blunt.
Let me be plain with you: I don't like her.
Plain
Clear; unencumbered; equal; fair.
Plain
Not unusually beautiful; unattractive.
Throughout high school she worried that she had a rather plain face.
Plain
(card games) Not a trump.
Plain
(obsolete) Full, complete in number or extent.
Plain
(colloquial) Simply.
It was just plain stupid.
I plain forgot.
Plain
(archaic) Plainly; distinctly.
Tell me plain: do you love me or no?
Plain
A lamentation.
Plain
An expanse of land with relatively low relief, usually exclusive of forests, deserts, and wastelands.
Plain
(archaic) field in reference to a battlefield.
Plain
(obsolete) plane: a flat geometric field.
Plain
To complain.
Plain
To lament, bewail.
To plain a loss
Plain
To level; to raze; to make plain or even on the surface.
Plain
To make plain or manifest; to explain.
Plain
To lament; to bewail; to complain.
We with piteous heart unto you pleyne.
Plain
To lament; to mourn over; as, to plain a loss.
Plain
To plane or level; to make plain or even on the surface.
We would rake Europe rather, plain the East.
Plain
To make plain or manifest; to explain.
What's dumb in show, I'll plain in speech.
Plain
Without elevations or depressions; flat; level; smooth; even. See Plane.
The crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.
Plain
Open; clear; unencumbered; equal; fair.
Our troops beat an army in plain fight.
Plain
Not intricate or difficult; evident; manifest; obvious; clear; unmistakable.
Plain
Void of extraneous beauty or ornament; without conspicious embellishment; not rich; simple.
Plain
In a plain manner; plainly.
Plain
Level land; usually, an open field or a broad stretch of land with an even surface, or a surface little varied by inequalities; as, the plain of Jordan; the American plains, or prairies.
Descending fro the mountain into playn.
Him the AmmoniteWorshiped in Rabba and her watery plain.
Plain
A field of battle.
Lead forth my soldiers to the plain.
Plain
Extensive tract of level open land;
They emerged from the woods onto a vast open plain
He longed for the fields of his youth
Plain
A basic knitting stitch
Plain
Express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness;
My mother complains all day
She has a lot to kick about
Plain
Clearly apparent or obvious to the mind or senses;
The effects of the drought are apparent to anyone who sees the parched fields
Evident hostility
Manifest disapproval
Patent advantages
Made his meaning plain
It is plain that he is no reactionary
In plain view
Plain
Not elaborate or elaborated; simple;
Plain food
Stuck to the plain facts
A plain blue suit
A plain rectangular brick building
Plain
Lacking patterns especially in color
Plain
Not mixed with extraneous elements;
Plain water
Sheer wine
Not an unmixed blessing
Plain
Free from any effort to soften to disguise;
The plain and unvarnished truth
The unvarnished candor of old people and children
Plain
Lacking embellishment or ornamentation;
A plain hair style
Unembellished white walls
Functional architecture featuring stark unornamented concrete
Plain
Lacking stylistic embellishment;
A literal description
Wrote good but plain prose
A plain unadorned account of the coronation
A forthright unembellished style
Plain
Comprehensible to the general public;
Written for the popular press in plain nontechnical language
Plain
Lacking in physical beauty or proportion;
A homely child
Several of the buildings were downright homely
A plain girl with a freckled face
Plain
Unmistakably (`plain' is often used informally for `plainly');
The answer is obviously wrong
She was in bed and evidently in great pain
He was manifestly too important to leave off the guest list
It is all patently nonsense
She has apparently been living here for some time
I thought he owned the property, but apparently not
You are plainly wrong
He is plain stubborn
Common Curiosities
Can plains be found outside of North America?
Yes, plains are found worldwide.
What climate do prairies typically have?
Temperate with enough rainfall for grass but not enough for forests.
What is a prairie?
A specific type of plain characterized by grassland in North America.
Are all plains grassy like prairies?
No, plains can have various types of vegetation, including deserts and forests.
Are plains important for biodiversity?
Yes, depending on their ecosystem, they can support diverse flora and fauna.
What challenges do prairies face today?
Threats include agricultural expansion, urbanization, and climate change.
What is a plain?
A large, flat, or gently undulating area of land that can exist in various climates.
Can prairies be found in urban areas?
Generally, prairies are located in rural areas, but prairie restoration efforts exist in some urban settings.
Do prairies support any unique wildlife?
Yes, including species like bison and prairie dogs.
What historical significance do prairies hold in America?
They were central to the westward expansion and settlement of the U.S.
How are plains used by humans?
For agriculture, urban development, and other activities.
What makes prairies unique in North America?
They are large grasslands with specific types of grass and a unique ecosystem.
What role do plains play in the global ecosystem?
They are crucial for agriculture and are habitats for diverse wildlife.
How are prairies affected by wildfires?
Wildfires are a natural part of prairie ecology, helping to renew grasslands.
How can prairies be preserved?
Through sustainable management practices and conservation efforts.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
