Main Difference
The main difference between Plain and Plateau is that the Plain is a flat region and Plateau is a high flat terrain
Plain
In geography, a plain is a flat, sweeping landmass that generally does not change much in elevation. Plains occur as lowlands along the bottoms of valleys or on the doorsteps 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. Where a geological region contains more than one plain, they may be connected by a pass (sometimes termed a gap). Coastal plains would mostly rise from sea level until they run into elevated features such as mountains or plateaus.Plains are one of the major landforms on earth, where they are present on all continents, and would cover more than one-third of the world’s land area. Plains may have been formed from flowing lava, deposited by water, ice, wind, or formed by erosion by these agents from hills and mountains. Plains would generally be under the grassland (temperate or subtropical), steppe (semi-arid), savannah (tropical) or tundra (polar) biomes. In a few instances, deserts and rainforests can also be plains.Plains in many areas are important for agriculture because where the soils were deposited as sediments they may be deep and fertile, and the flatness facilitates mechanization of crop production; or because they support grasslands which provide good grazing for livestock.
Plateau
In geology and physical geography a plateau ( , or ; plural plateaus or plateaux), is also called a high plain or a tableland. It is an area of a highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain that is raised significantly above the surrounding area, often with one or more sides with steep slopes. Plateaus can be formed by a number of processes, including upwelling of volcanic magma, extrusion of lava, and erosion by water and glaciers. Plateaus are classified according to their surrounding environment as intermontane, piedmont, or continental.
Plain (adjective)
Flat, level. from 14th c.
Plain (adjective)
Simple.
Plain (adjective)
Ordinary; lacking adornment or ornamentation; unembellished. from 14th c.
“He was dressed simply in plain black clothes.”
“a plain tune”
Plain (adjective)
Of just one colour; lacking a pattern.
“a plain pink polycotton skirt”
Plain (adjective)
Simple in habits or qualities; unsophisticated, not exceptional, ordinary. from 16th c.
“They’re just plain people like you or me.”
Plain (adjective)
Having only few ingredients, or no additional ingredients or seasonings; not elaborate, without toppings or extras. from 17th c.
“Would you like a poppy bagel or a plain bagel?”
Plain (adjective)
Obvious.
Plain (adjective)
Containing no extended or nonprinting characters (especially in plain text). from 20th c.
Plain (adjective)
Evident to one’s senses or reason; manifest, clear, unmistakable. from 14th c.
Plain (adjective)
Open.
Plain (adjective)
Downright; total, unmistakable (as intensifier). from 14th c.
“His answer was just plain nonsense.”
Plain (adjective)
Honest and without deception; candid, open; blunt. from 14th c.
“Let me be plain with you: I don’t like her.”
Plain (adjective)
Not unusually beautiful; unattractive. from 17th c.
“Throughout high school she worried that she had a rather plain face.”
Plain (adverb)
Simply
“It was just plain stupid.”
“I plain forgot.”
Plain (noun)
A lamentation.
Plain (noun)
An expanse of land with relatively low relief.
Plain (noun)
A battlefield.
Plain (noun)
A plane.
Plain (verb)
To complain. 13th-19th c.
Plain (verb)
To lament, bewail. from 14th c.
“to plain a loss”
Plain (verb)
To level; to raze; to make plain or even on the surface.
Plain (verb)
To make plain or manifest; to explain.
Plateau (noun)
A largely level expanse of land at a high elevation; tableland.
Plateau (noun)
A comparatively stable level in something that varies.
Plateau (noun)
An ornamental dish for the table; a tray or salver.
Plateau (noun)
A notable level of attainment or achievement.
Plateau (verb)
To reach a stable level; to level off.
Plain (adjective)
not decorated or elaborate; simple or basic in character
“everyone dined at a plain wooden table”
“good plain food”
Plain (adjective)
without a pattern; in only one colour
“a plain fabric”
Plain (adjective)
(of paper) without lines.
Plain (adjective)
bearing no indication as to contents or affiliation
“donations can be put in a plain envelope”
Plain (adjective)
having no pretensions; not remarkable or special
“a plain, honest man with no nonsense about him”
Plain (adjective)
(of a person) without a special title or status
“for years he was just plain Bill”
Plain (adjective)
easy to perceive or understand; clear
“the advantages were plain to see”
“it was plain that something was wrong”
Plain (adjective)
(of written or spoken usage) clearly expressed, without the use of technical or abstruse terms
“an insurance policy written in plain English”
Plain (adjective)
not using concealment or deception; frank
“there were indrawn breaths at such plain speaking”
Plain (adjective)
(of a person) not beautiful or attractive
“a plain, round-faced woman”
Plain (adjective)
sheer; simple (used for emphasis)
“the main problem is just plain exhaustion”
Plain (adjective)
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 (adverb)
used for emphasis
“perhaps the youth was just plain stupid”
Plain (adverb)
clearly or unequivocally
“I’m finished with you, I’ll tell you plain”
Plain (noun)
a large area of flat land with few trees
“the coastal plain”
Plain (verb)
mourn or lament.
Plain (verb)
complain.
Plain (verb)
emit a mournful or plaintive sound.
Plateau (noun)
an area of fairly level high ground.
Plateau (noun)
denoting a group of North American peoples of the high plains of western Canada and the US, including the Nez Percé.
Plateau (noun)
a state of little or no change following a period of activity or progress
“the peace process had reached a plateau”
Plateau (verb)
reach a state of little or no change after a period of activity or progress
“the industry’s problems have plateaued out”