elaborate

[ih-lab-er-it, ih-lab-uh-reyt]

adjective

1. worked out with great care and nicety of detail; executed with great minuteness.

   elaborate preparations; elaborate care.

   Synonyms: painstaking
   Antonyms: simple

2. marked by intricate and often excessive detail; complicated; ornate.

verb (used with object)

elaborated, elaborating 

1. to work out carefully or minutely; develop to perfection.

   Synonyms: improve, refine

2. to add details to; expand.

3. to produce or develop by labor.

4. Physiology.,  to convert (food, plasma, etc.) by means of chemical processes into a substance more suitable for use within the body.

verb (used without object)

elaborated, elaborating 

1. to add details in writing, speaking, etc.; give additional or fuller treatment (usually followed by on orupon ).

   to elaborate upon a theme or an idea.

   Synonyms: improve, refine

elaborate

/ ɪˈlæbərətɪv /

adjective

1. planned or executed with care and exactness; detailed

2. marked by complexity, ornateness, or detail

verb

1. (intr; usually foll by on or upon) to add information or detail (to an account); expand (upon)

2. (tr) to work out in detail; develop

3. (tr) to make more complicated or ornate

4. (tr) to produce by careful labour; create

5. (tr) physiol to change (food or simple substances) into more complex substances for use in the body

Other Word Forms

• elaborately adverb
• elaborator noun
• elaborateness noun
• elaboration noun
• elaborative adjective
• nonelaborate adjective
• nonelaborately adverb
• nonelaborateness noun
• nonelaborating adjective
• nonelaborative adjective
• quasi-elaborate adjective
• quasi-elaborately adverb
• self-elaborated adjective
• superelaborate adjective
• superelaborately adverb
• superelaborateness noun
• unelaborate adjective
• unelaborately adverb
• unelaborateness noun
• unelaborated adjective
• well-elaborated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of elaborate¹

First recorded in 1575–85; from Latin ēlabōrātus (past participle of ēlabōrāre ) worked out, equivalent to ē- intensive prefix + labōr- “work” + -ātus adjective suffix; e- ¹, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of elaborate¹

C16: from Latin ēlabōrāre to take pains, from labōrāre to toil

Synonym Study

Elaborate, labored, studied apply to that which is worked out in great detail. That which is elaborate is characterized by great, sometimes even excessive, minuteness of detail: elaborate preparations for a banquet. That which is labored is marked by excessive, often forced or uninspired, effort: a labored style of writing. That which is studied is accomplished with care and deliberation, and is done purposely, sometimes even having been rehearsed: a studied pose.

Example Sentences

The board, which is appointed by the mayor’s office, did not elaborate on the challenges, but the park has long been a gathering place for homeless people who often experience mental health issues.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

No one has to bother with elaborate prescriptions to avoid detection or slower-acting alternatives.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The court did not elaborate on the matter.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"Obviously, as you put together this force, it'll have to be people that Israel's comfortable, or countries that Israel's comfortable with as well," he added, without elaborating.

Read more on BBC

Halloween costumes tend to require elaborate stitching and a variety of materials, so capacity often is reserved up to two years in advance.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal