elaborate
ih-LAB-ruht
Elaborate (adjective) means Worked out with great care and detail; intricate or highly developed. Example: “The chef prepared an elaborate dinner with seven courses.”
adjective
1
Worked out with great care and detail; intricate or highly developed.
"The chef prepared an elaborate dinner with seven courses."
"She planned an elaborate surprise party with a live band and fireworks."
"The palace ceiling was covered in elaborate gold carvings."
verb
1
To add more detail or explanation to something already said.
"The teacher asked him to elaborate on his answer."
"Could you elaborate on what you mean by "unfair"?"
"He elaborated on his plan during the meeting, adding a full budget breakdown."
How to use elaborate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "very detailed and carefully made" (adjective) or "to explain something in more detail" (verb).
Memory tip
The verb and adjective are spelled the same but stressed differently: uh-LAB-uh-rit (adjective) vs uh-LAB-uh-rate (verb).
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
an elaborate plan
elaborate on a point
elaborate design
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- elaborates
- Past tense
- elaborated
- Comparative
- more elaborate
- Superlative
- most elaborate
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The chef prepared an _____ dinner with seven courses.
Etymology
From Latin elaboratus, meaning "worked out fully" — from labor, "work."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for elaborate
See all rhymes for elaborate →Frequently asked questions
What does “elaborate” mean?
The word “elaborate” means worked out with great care and detail; intricate or highly developed. In plain terms, either "very detailed and carefully made" (adjective) or "to explain something in more detail" (verb).
How do you pronounce “elaborate”?
“Elaborate” is pronounced ih-LAB-ruht (/ɪˈlæb.(ə.)ɹət/ in IPA).
How do you use “elaborate” in a sentence?
Here is “elaborate” used in a sentence: “She planned an elaborate surprise party with a live band and fireworks.”
What part of speech is “elaborate”?
Depending on how it is used, “elaborate” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “elaborate” come from?
The word “elaborate” comes from Latin. From Latin elaboratus, meaning "worked out fully" — from labor, "work.".
Is “elaborate” a common word?
“Elaborate” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “elaborate” have?
“Elaborate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: worked out with great care and detail; intricate or highly developed.
What is the difference between elaborate and explain?
To explain is to make something understandable, starting from scratch if necessary. To elaborate is specifically to add more detail or explanation to something already said — you can only elaborate on a point that is already on the table. "Could you elaborate?" therefore means "tell me more," not "start again."
Do you elaborate on something or elaborate something?
In everyday English the verb is normally intransitive and takes on (or upon): "She refused to elaborate on the decision." The transitive use without a preposition — "to elaborate a theory" — exists but is formal, and it usually means to work something out in careful detail rather than to add comment.
Is elaborate pronounced differently as an adjective and as a verb?
Yes. The adjective, as in "an elaborate plan," ends with a reduced final syllable, roughly "-rut," while the verb, as in "please elaborate," ends with a full "-rate" sound. English does the same with several -ate words, including separate, graduate, and estimate.
What is the difference between elaborate and intricate?
Intricate stresses many small, interconnected parts that are hard to follow, like the workings of a watch. Elaborate stresses that something has been worked out with great care and rich detail, and it can hint at showiness — an elaborate ceremony, an elaborate excuse. Something can be elaborate without being hard to understand.
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