elaborate

1 of 2

adjective

elab·​o·​rate i-ˈla-b(ə-)rət How to pronounce elaborate (audio)
1
: planned or carried out with great care
took elaborate precautions
2
: marked by complexity, fullness of detail, or ornateness
elaborate prose
elaborately adverb
elaborateness noun

elaborate

2 of 2

verb

elab·​o·​rate i-ˈla-bə-ˌrāt How to pronounce elaborate (audio)
elaborated; elaborating

intransitive verb

1
: to expand something in detail
would you care to elaborate on that statement
2
: to become elaborate (see elaborate entry 1)

transitive verb

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
elaboration noun
elaborative adjective

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
To memorialize her father’s life, the Massachusetts artist constructed a series of elaborate collages. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 The choreography at least is something to behold, particularly when the entire company takes the stage, mixing dance with elaborate stunt work. Shania Russell, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2024 In addition to retro color pairings, such as pink and green, this trend has sparked the comeback of Lambeth piping, a classic English tradition of over-piping icing to create elaborate ruffles, scrolls, garlands, pearls and more. Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024 During the Edwardian era, women's dress was elaborate, including corsets, long skirts, and layers. Alyssa Hardy, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2024 The elaborate ruse Cowles described began with someone calling her and posing as an Amazon representative asking about some suspicious purchases. María Soledad Davila Calero, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024 Dress Code To scare away the Nain Rouge, elaborate costumes are encouraged. Detroit Free Press, 20 Mar. 2024 The army last raided Shifa Hospital in November after claiming that Hamas maintained an elaborate command center within and beneath the facility. Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy and Tia Goldenberg, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024 The tearoom itself might be decorated with rare works of art, such as paintings or calligraphy mounted on hanging scrolls, elaborate flower vases and incense burners. Paul S. Atkins, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2024
Verb
Officials did not elaborate on what pointed them to the pair. USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024 Reese, who scrubbed Fletcher, 21, from her Instagram account, also seemingly elaborated on why the two split. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024 Scherer did not elaborate on whether the boy, girl or both were armed. The Arizona Republic, 19 Mar. 2024 When the special House committee tasked with investigating the attack issued subpoenas for Navarro and Bannon to elaborate on those plans, both men ignored them. Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2024 From horse barns to elaborate kitchens, here are three million dollar and up properties for sale in the Louisville area. Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 14 Mar. 2024 Representatives for Cena and The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have not yet responded to THR’s requests to elaborate on this scant ensemble. Beatrice Verhoeven, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2024 The airline did not elaborate on what the technical event was but confirmed the plane landed in Auckland as scheduled. Alexandra Banner, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 Owens further elaborated on what led to his disbelief. Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'elaborate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Verb

Latin elaboratus, from past participle of elaborare to work out, acquire by labor, from e- + laborare to work — more at laboratory

First Known Use

Adjective

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1611, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of elaborate was in 1592

Dictionary Entries Near elaborate

Cite this Entry

“Elaborate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elaborate. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

elaborate

1 of 2 adjective
elab·​o·​rate i-ˈlab-(ə-)rət How to pronounce elaborate (audio)
: made or done with great care or with much detail
elaborate plans
an elaborate design
elaborately adverb
elaborateness noun

elaborate

2 of 2 verb
elab·​o·​rate i-ˈlab-ə-ˌrāt How to pronounce elaborate (audio)
elaborated; elaborating
1
: to work out in detail : develop
elaborate an idea
2
: to give more details
elaborate on a story
elaboration noun
elaborative adjective

Medical Definition

elaborate

transitive verb
elab·​o·​rate i-ˈlab-ə-ˌrāt How to pronounce elaborate (audio)
elaborated; elaborating
of a living organism
: to alter the chemical makeup of (as a foodstuff) to one more suited to bodily needs (as of assimilation or excretion)
especially : to build up (complex organic compounds) from simple ingredients
the toxin elaborated by the tetanus bacterium

More from Merriam-Webster on elaborate

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