elaborate
adjective
elab·o·rate
| \ i-ˈla-b(ə-)rət
\
\
Definition of elaborate
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: planned or carried out with great care
took elaborate precautions
2
: marked by complexity, fullness of detail, or ornateness
elaborate prose
elaborate
verb
elab·o·rate
| \ i-ˈla-bə-ˌrāt
\
\
elaborated;
elaborating
Definition of elaborate (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: to expand something in detail
would you care to elaborate on that statement
2
: to become elaborate (see elaborate entry 1)
1
: to work out in detail : develop
elaborate a theory
2
: to produce by labor
3
: to build up (something, such as complex organic compounds) from simple ingredients
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Other Words from elaborate
Adjective
elaborately
adverb
elaborateness
noun
Verb
elaboration
\ i-ˌla-bə-ˈrā-shən
\
noun
\
noun
elaborative
\ i-ˈla-bə-ˌrā-tiv
\
adjective
\
adjective
Synonyms & Antonyms for elaborate
Synonyms: Adjective
complex, complicated, detailed, fancy, intricate, involved, sophisticated
Synonyms: Verb
Antonyms: Adjective
no-frills, simple, unfancy, unsophisticated
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Examples of elaborate in a Sentence
Adjective
Jumping spiders, the largest family of spiders, have excellent eyesight and perform elaborate courtship and threat displays, often characterized by ritualized body postures and leg waving. — Simon Pollard, Natural History, March 1995 Mostly, I think, because it's wicked hot today, I've been having elaborate fantasies about the perfect hot-weather lunch: two dozen freshly opened Little Necks and a couple bottles of ice-cold lager. None of that red "cocktail" sauce on 'em either, just lemon and coarse black pepper. — Vladimir Estragon, Waiting for Dessert, 1982 On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter A. — Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, 1850 They made elaborate preparations for his visit. I see now that her behavior was all part of an elaborate plan. The dancers were wearing elaborate costumes. He told the story in elaborate detail.Verb
… the National Weather Service … advised all citizens in New Orleans's water-filled neighborhoods "to take the necessary tools for survival." The Weather Service elaborated: "Those going into attics should try to take an axe or hatchet with them so they can cut their way onto the roof to avoid drowning should rising flood waters continue to rise into the attic." — Christopher Cooper & Robert Block, Diaster, 2006 In each evening's sleep sustained dream scenarios, elaborated over periods lasting up to an hour, alternate with thought-like mentation in 90-minute-cycles. — Jeffrey Saver, London Review of Books, 4 Aug. 1988 I'll be glad to elaborate if you want to hear more. She was asked to say more about her earlier statements, but she declined to elaborate.
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
Authorities said the shooting between the husband and wife was domestic in nature but did not elaborate. — Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, "39-year-old Birmingham woman charged in husband’s weekend shooting death," 2 Sep. 2019 There is no simple answer; there may not even be an elaborate, nuanced answer. — Gerald Marzorati, The New Yorker, "Karolína Muchová and the Czech Republic’s New Tennis Generation," 30 Aug. 2019 When asked if that meant China wouldn’t retaliate at all for the latest escalation by the U.S., Gao didn’t elaborate but repeated the same comments. — Fortune, "Facing New U.S. Tariffs, China Says it Will Not Retaliate," 29 Aug. 2019 Asked if that meant the Dodgers would bring up top prospect Gavin Lux, an infielder, to play this season, Roberts did not elaborate. — Los Angeles Times, "Max Muncy to undergo further tests on right wrist to determine severity of injury," 29 Aug. 2019 Its inspectors have uncovered elaborate fraud schemes aimed at the theft and clearing of public land for cattle grazing and agriculture. — Felipe Fittipaldi, National Geographic, "Inside the faltering fight against illegal Amazon logging," 28 Aug. 2019 More than 11-miles of silk will be used to create the elaborate displays, according a news release. — Doreen Christensen, sun-sentinel.com, "Bedazzling ‘Luminosa’ at Jungle Island will feature a million tiny lights and giant Chinese lanterns," 23 Aug. 2019 Recent research suggest that many of the elaborate horns and frills found on ceratopsian dinos from the later Cretaceous period were likely ornaments that evolved to attract mates—not primarily for defense as previously believed. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "New Species of Stegosaurus Unearthed in Mountains of Morocco," 22 Aug. 2019 Parker did not elaborate before Carlos Warner, her federal public defender, cut off the interview. — Eric Heisig, cleveland.com, "Former Collinwood development corporation executive director pleads guilty to theft charge," 5 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
The summary does not elaborate on the nature of the contact or the departments in which the employees worked. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Internal investigation finds admissions scandal at USD limited to one coach," 29 Aug. 2019 Schilling confirmed the musing to The Republic last week, but declined to elaborate on his plans. — Ronald J. Hansen, azcentral, "If he runs, Curt Schilling says he would take on Rep. Tom O'Halleran," 21 Aug. 2019 Chasen declined to elaborate on McKesson's discussions to resolve the litigation. — Bloomberg Wire, Dallas News, "McKesson, AmerisourceBergen among opiod distributors proposing $10 billion payment to settle state claims," 6 Aug. 2019 This work is still in its very early stages, but in the last year researchers have produced several papers which elaborate the relationship between form and function in neural networks. — Wired, "Neural Networks Need a Cookbook. Here Are the Ingredients," 3 Feb. 2019 While El Paso police chief Greg Allen declined to elaborate on what kind of statements are being made by alleged mass murderer Patrick Wood Crusius, the 21-year-old has apparently spoken freely. — David K. Li, NBC News, "El Paso shooting being treated as domestic terrorism, police say suspect cooperating," 4 Aug. 2019 Fiorito said the defendant threw unspecified evidence out of the car window during the chase, but declined to elaborate. — Pomerado News, "Man charged with drive-by murder of Poway High grad," 23 July 2019 Disneyland representatives declined to elaborate further on why the second attraction will not be ready to open this year at the park. — Hugo Martin, latimes.com, "Disneyland’s second Star Wars land ride is delayed until January," 11 July 2019 Larimer sheriff’s officials declined to elaborate, but last week confirmed their probe remains ongoing. — Jackson Barnett, The Denver Post, "Shambhala, the Boulder-born Buddhist organization, suppressed allegations of abuse, ex-members say," 7 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'elaborate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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