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elaborate

/ɪˈlæb.(ə.)ɹət/verb, adjective3 syllables

Elaborate means: add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing.

Synonyms for elaborate20

verb, as in add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing

lucubrate, expatiate, exposit, enlarge, flesh out, expand, expound, dilate

verb, as in make more complex, intricate, or richer

complicate, refine, rarify

verb, as in work out in detail

work out, work up

adjective, as in developed or executed with care and in minute detail

detailed, elaborated, careful

adjective, as in marked by complexity and richness of detail

luxuriant, fancy

also used for elaborate

fussy, busy

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

What does elaborate mean?6

verb

1

add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing“She elaborated on the main ideas in her dissertation”

2

make more complex, intricate, or richer“refine a design or pattern”

3

work out in detail“elaborate a plan”

4

produce from basic elements or sources; change into a more developed product“The bee elaborates honey”

adjective

1

developed or executed with care and in minute detail“a detailed plan”

2

marked by complexity and richness of detail“an elaborate lace pattern”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Elaborate in a sentence

  • The explanations are too elaborate, and they should be simplified.CK
  • To defend the city, they built an elaborate system of tunnels of their own.Amastan
  • Let's take time out to elaborate a strategy.al_ex_an_der
  • I made a more elaborate video about it.josivangoncalves
  • America has an elaborate system of constitutional checks and balances.unknown
  • The male grouse performs elaborate dances in order to attract a mate.AlanF_US
  • In this album all the sounds that you hear are really elaborate computer voices.Zifre
  • The explanations are too elaborate and should be simplified.CK

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of elaborate

as a verb

past tense
elaborated
present participle
elaborating
third-person singular
elaborates
past participle
elaborated