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elucidate

verb
elu·​ci·​date | \ i-ˈlĂŒ-sə-ˌdāt How to pronounce elucidate (audio) \
elucidated; elucidating

Definition of elucidate

transitive verb

: to make lucid especially by explanation or analysis elucidate a text

intransitive verb

: to give a clarifying explanation
Other Words from elucidate Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about elucidate

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Other Words from elucidate

elucidation \ i-​ˌlĂŒ-​sə-​ˈdā-​shən How to pronounce elucidation (audio) \ noun
elucidative \ i-​ˈlĂŒ-​sə-​ˌdā-​tiv How to pronounce elucidative (audio) \ adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for elucidate

explain, expound, explicate, elucidate, interpret mean to make something clear or understandable. explain implies a making plain or intelligible what is not immediately obvious or entirely known. explain the rules expound implies a careful often elaborate explanation. expounding a scientific theory explicate adds the idea of a developed or detailed analysis. explicate a poem elucidate stresses the throwing of light upon as by offering details or motives previously unclear or only implicit. elucidate an obscure passage interpret adds to explain the need for imagination or sympathy or special knowledge in dealing with something. interpreting a work of art

Did You Know?

To "elucidate" is to make something clear that was formerly murky or confusing - and it is perfectly clear how the modern term got that meaning. "Elucidate" traces to the Latin term lucidus, which means "lucid." "Lucidus" in turn descends from the verb lucēre, meaning "to shine." So "elucidating" can be thought of as the figurative equivalent of shining a light on something to make it easier to see. "Lucēre" has also produced other shining offspring in English. Among its descendants are "lucid" itself (which can mean "shining," "clear-headed," or "easily understood"), "lucent" (meaning "giving off light" or "easily seen through"), and "translucent" (meaning "partly transparent" or "clear enough for light to pass through").

Examples of elucidate in a Sentence

When asked for details, he declined to elucidate further. colored charts that really help to elucidate the points made in the text

Recent Examples on the Web

 Berges is widely seen as leading the theoretical effort, with a series of seminal papers since 2008 elucidating the physics of universal scaling. — Wired, "Fractal Patterns Offer Clues to the Universe's Origin," 11 Aug. 2019 Berges is widely seen as leading the theoretical effort, with a series of seminal papers since 2008 elucidating the physics of universal scaling. — Wired, "Fractal Patterns Offer Clues to the Universe's Origin," 11 Aug. 2019 Berges is widely seen as leading the theoretical effort, with a series of seminal papers since 2008 elucidating the physics of universal scaling. — Quanta Magazine, "The Universal Law That Aims Time’s Arrow," 1 Aug. 2019 The tendency when writing history to disregard the testimonies of children can elucidate why those like Gisela and numerous more were not included in the historical record for so long. — Gail Fletcher, National Geographic, "The forgotten ‘wolf children’ of World War II," 29 July 2019 Some of them have already been clearly elucidated by John Gruber back in November, 2018. — Dieter Bohn, The Verge, "This year’s iPhone should be the last with Lightning," 24 July 2019 His desperate attempts to document his days elucidate the anger, fear, and frustration of dementia, often creating asides between the reader and author that the protagonist isn’t privy to. — Alana Mohamed, The Atlantic, "Inside the Head of an Aging Serial Killer," 11 June 2019 Photo: iStock/Getty Images Mr. Moore neglects elucidating the difference between structural and cyclical budget deficits. — WSJ, "‘Sugar High’ Debate and Obama vs. Trump," 13 Dec. 2018 Signals of changes in the climate are harder to elucidate in these blazes. — Umair Irfan, Vox, "California’s wildfires are hardly “natural” — humans made them worse at every step," 12 Nov. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'elucidate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of elucidate

circa 1568, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

History and Etymology for elucidate

Late Latin elucidatus, past participle of elucidare, from Latin e- + lucidus lucid

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More Definitions for elucidate

elucidate

verb
How to pronounce elucidate (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of elucidate

formal : to make (something that is hard to understand) clear or easy to understand

See the full definition for elucidate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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More from Merriam-Webster on elucidate

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with elucidate

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for elucidate

Spanish Central: Translation of elucidate

Nglish: Translation of elucidate for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of elucidate for Arabic Speakers

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