平ら「たいら」 vs. 平たい「ひらたい」

[sinbadx81]

What's the difference in usage between the two? They both mean "flat", but I'm assuming they're used in different situations. Does it have to do with size something like that? That's kind of the feeling I get, but I'm not sure.

よろしく！

[Psy]

Pulled from the goo dictionary:

たいら
（名） (noun)
(1)平らな場所。平地。
(2)（「平」と書く）暦注の十二直の一。移転・相談事などに吉、池掘り・種蒔きなどに凶という日。

1) a flat place, level ground
2) Written as "平," one of the twelve lucky calendar signs. The day is lucky for moving/consultations, unlucky for sowing and... digging out lakes? (dunno the meaning of 池堀り, assuming いけほり. Some kind of farming term anyway)

（形動）[文]ナリ (pesudo [na]-adjective)
(1)高低・凹凸のないさま。
(2)（「おたいらに」「たいらに」などの形で）正座せずに楽な姿勢ですわるさま。
(3)性格などがおだやかなさま。

1) Describes that without unevenness/highs and lows.
2) (In the forms "おたいらに" or "たいらに") Describes the aspect of sitting in a relaxed posture rather than seiza-style.
3) Describes the condition of having a bland personality.

ひらたい
（形）(i-adj)
(1)凹凸がなく広がっている。たいらだ。
(2)言葉などが、わかりやすい。あらたまった言い方でない。
(3)角立っていない。柔らかい。やさしい。

1) Spread out wide without unevenness.
2) In words and so forth, easy to understand, informal.
3) Not sharp. Soft. Gentle, kind.

Hope that helps. Corrections welcome.

[sinbadx81]

I was kind of looking for some more context/examples....

[jkeyz15]

Examples Galore!

平たい：
http://eow.alc.co.jp/%e5%b9%b3%e3%81%9f ... -8/?ref=sa

平ら：
http://eow.alc.co.jp/%e5%b9%b3%e3%82%89/UTF-8/