elucidation

American  

[ih-loo-si-dey-shuhn] / ɪˌlu sɪˈdeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of explaining or making something clear.

   Ideas may occur in abstract forms, but their elucidation happens only through language.

2. an explanation or clarification.

   Albert Einstein won the Nobel Prize for his elucidation of the photoelectric effect.

---

Other Word Forms

• nonelucidation
  noun

Etymology

Origin of elucidation

First recorded in 1520–30; elucid(ate) ( def. ) + -ation ( def. )

Explanation

An elucidation is really just a fancy name for an "explanation." Sherlock Holmes revealing his deductions to Dr. Watson is a classic example of elucidation. Because of its suggestion of complexity, elucidation is a word often used in a scientific or educational context: scientists will elucidate their latest theories to the public or a college professor will elucidate some complicated theorem to their students. You need to be wide awake for an elucidation. There's often a test to follow.

Example Sentences

Elucidation of the phenotypic, functional, and molecular topography of a myeloerythroid progenitor cell hierarchy.

From Nature • Jan. 23, 2018

Elucidation and evolution of the active component within Cu/Fe/ZSM-5 for catalytic methane oxidation: from synthesis to catalysis.

From Nature • Nov. 28, 2017

Thus in the Tristan he is a knight of Mark's, in the Elucidation and the Gawain stories a knight of Arthur's, court.

From From Ritual to Romance by Weston, Jessie Laidlay

For the Targum of Jerusalem, see citation in Quaresmius, Terrae Sanctae Elucidation, Peregrinatio vi, cap. xiv; new Venice edition.

From History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom by White, Andrew Dickson

In my opinion it is the tradition of such a survival which lies at the root, and explains the confused imagery, of the text we know as the Elucidation.

From From Ritual to Romance by Weston, Jessie Laidlay