elaborate

[ adjective ih-lab-er-it; verb 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)

, e·lab·o·rat·ed, e·lab·o·rat·ing.

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)

, e·lab·o·rat·ed, e·lab·o·rat·ing.

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

   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

Derived Forms

• eˈlaborately, adverb
• eˈlaboˌrator, noun
• eˈlaborateness, noun
• eˌlaboˈration, noun
• elaborative, adjective

Other Words From

• e·labo·rate·ly adverb
• e·labo·rate·ness noun
• e·labo·rative adjective
• e·labo·rator noun
• none·labo·rate adjective
• none·labo·rate·ly adverb
• none·labo·rate·ness noun
• none·labo·rating adjective
• none·labo·rative adjective
• quasi-e·labo·rate adjective
• quasi-e·labo·rate·ly adverb
• self-e·labo·rated adjective
• super·e·labo·rate adjective
• super·e·labo·rate·ly adverb
• super·e·labo·rate·ness noun
• une·labo·rate adjective
• une·labo·rate·ly adverb
• une·labo·rate·ness noun
• une·labo·rated adjective
• well-e·labo·rated 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 only problem: This is an elaborate two-part copycat that blatantly plagiarized the exact contents of earlier X posts that happened months before.

From Slate

A master of disguise, the Jackal first appears in elaborate — yet, to the viewer, obvious — prosthetics to make him look like a specific janitor in a building he’s planning to breach.

From Los Angeles Times

Can you elaborate a bit on that?

From Salon

As with many elaborate con tricks, not everything Raymond McDonald said was a lie.

From BBC

It’s unclear when the sale will close and Solters did not elaborate on what the buyers’ plans are for the property at 1416 N. La Brea Ave., which has a past as a movie and television studio but now functions primarily as a music recording studio.

From Los Angeles Times