elaborate
To add more detail or explanation to something already stated.
Examples
In a meeting
“Could you elaborate on the risks you mentioned in the last slide?”
Over coffee
“You said the trip was 'interesting' — care to elaborate?”
Why this word
expand
elaborate implies adding detailed explanation or development, while expand is simply making larger
explain
elaborate suggests providing additional detail beyond basic explanation, while explain is making clear initially
detail
elaborate emphasizes developing ideas with fuller treatment, while detail focuses on specific particulars
Usage tip
As a verb (ee-LAB-or-ate), means to expand on. As an adjective (ee-LAB-or-it), means detailed or complex. Different pronunciations.
Etymology
Latin elaborare — e/ex (out) + laborare (to work), literally 'to work out in detail'
Get a new word every morning
One precise word per day. Under 60 seconds to read. Free forever.
Related words
broach
To bring up or introduce a topic for discussion
concise
Giving a lot of information clearly in few words.
ambiguous
Open to more than one interpretation; not clear or decided.
convey
To communicate or make an idea, feeling, or meaning known.
reiterate
To say something again for emphasis or clarity.
paraphrase
To restate something in different words to make it clearer or shorter.