allude

al·lude

intransitive verb \ə-ˈlüd\

al·lud·edal·lud·ing

Definition of ALLUDE

: to make indirect reference <comments alluding to an earlier discussion>; broadly : refer

Examples of ALLUDE

1. <Mrs. Simons alluded to some health problems, without being specific.>
2. As alluded to previously, the entire universe may actually exist in a higher-dimensional space. —Clifford A. Pickover, Surfing Through Hyperspace, 1999
3. Adams had alluded to slavery in 1816, when he confided to Jefferson that “there will be greater difficulties to preserve our Union, than You and I, our Fathers Brothers Friends … have had to form it.” —Joseph J. Ellis, American Heritage, May/June 1993
4. The more challenging problems in fact—ones that the optimists rarely allude to—will be the problems of success. —Charles R. Morris, Atlantic, October 1989

Origin of ALLUDE

Latin alludere, literally, to play with, from ad- + ludere to play — more at ludicrous

First Known Use: 1533

Related to ALLUDE

Synonyms

hint, imply, indicate, infer, insinuate, intimate, suggest

Related Words

advert, mention, point, refer, signal, signalize, signify; smack (of), smell (of)

Near Antonyms

announce, declare, proclaim; elucidate, explain, spell out; delineate, describe

Rhymes with ALLUDE

blood feud, collude, conclude, delude, denude, elude, exclude, extrude, exude, fast-food, health food, include, intrude, junk food, obtrude, occlude, plant food, postlude, preclude, prelude, protrude, quaalude, seafood, seclude, subdued, transude, unglued