I. adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a grand/elaborate ceremony
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The inhabitants of the town organized a grand ceremony to mark the occasion.
an elaborate lie
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Her parents didn’t realise that it was all an elaborate lie.
an elaborate pretence (= one that is carefully planned and done, but obviously not true or real )
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He made an elaborate pretence of yawning and said he was going to bed.
an elaborate system
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The proposal has to get through an elaborate system of committees.
elaborate hoax
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an elaborate hoax
elaborate precautions (= a lot of detailed precautions )
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Elaborate precautions were taken to avoid disputes between the representatives.
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADVERB
increasingly
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The new factory made it possible for the company to produce increasingly elaborate garments.
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Moreover, with time and aided by the debate, the accepted ideas become increasingly elaborate .
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Most surviving examples date from the eighteenth century, by which time the decoration became increasingly elaborate and stylised.
quite
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Some biochemists have built up quite elaborate blueprints for forms of life utterly different from our own.
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There are several quite elaborate private lists in existence, but none of these has yet been published.
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This involved quite elaborate dressing-up, and the fun and laughter of those Boxing Day nights was a treasure indeed.
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A correlator's input consists of examples with just a few features which can be quite elaborate .
very
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Since coal is formed from plants, which are chemically very complicated, its own chemical make-up is very elaborate .
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Yet the church is a very elaborate structure with evidence of a Norman nave and elaborate stone-vaulted chancel.
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Despite a very elaborate legal code on the use of pesticides, introduced in 1973, the situation remains unchanged.
■ NOUN
hoax
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It was still not clear last night whether the tapes were an elaborate hoax .
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This was nothing but an elaborate hoax perpetrated by her in revenge for all the suffering I had caused her.
plan
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It was a hell of an elaborate plan just for a wind-up.
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Of course, Aunt Rose had elaborate plans for her own death and dispersal.
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Despite the elaborate plans , there were few takers.
ritual
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The elaborate rituals surrounding the preparation of the icon are not without purpose or effect.
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There are elaborate rituals of atonement to be found there.
scheme
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This aspect of the deal was necessary because Altus Finance needed to unwind an elaborate scheme it had concocted in 1991.
set
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In the weeks following the dinner Lutyens swiftly drew up an elaborate set of plans.
structure
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For elaborate structures stick rocks together with silicone sealant, but let it cure completely before putting it into your tank water.
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Although the rules which provide its definition are surprisingly simple, the set itself exhibits an endless variety of highly elaborate structure .
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Their cells have the most elaborate structure .
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Yet the church is a very elaborate structure with evidence of a Norman nave and elaborate stone-vaulted chancel.
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Many of those that live in the sea secrete shells with the most elaborate structure of silica or lime.
system
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An elaborate system of rain-water drains can be seen, reconstructed by Evans, at the East Entrance.
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An elaborate system of spectral classes has been established by a persistent cadre of asteroid observers.
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In 1882, this elaborate system was extended further.
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Good luck, bad luck, an elaborate system of beliefs, superstitions, symbols.
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The main purpose of this elaborate system was almost certainly profit for the king.
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Examination of particular species seems to show elaborate systems for enhancing cross-pollination.
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An elaborate system of nozzles and fan-draught cowls minimises the risks of lead-poisoning.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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Elaborate murals had been painted on three of the four walls.
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an elaborate tattoo of an eagle
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Cho and Lee celebrated their new partnership at an elaborate banquet.
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Mike had worked out an elaborate system for categorizing his collection of CDs.
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Nick examined the elaborate carvings on the tomb.
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She had prepared an elaborate excuse for her absence.
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Sociologists have been coming up with increasingly elaborate theories to explain unsafe sexual practices.
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The diaries have been published in one volume, with elaborate biographical notes by Professor Emson.
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The lawyer had concocted an elaborate defence that gave a totally false impression of what happened.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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After our return to Wichita, the master worked out an elaborate tour, with a record number of weekly performances.
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But Frank Bascombe, for all his hapless domestic incompetence and elaborate self-pity, was interesting and kind of likable.
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He did not typically employ elaborate statistics to test hypotheses or use control groups in his research.
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Police said they were elaborate devices, of similar construction, designed to give the impression they were bombs.
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Seven ruff, without as yet their elaborate courtship adornments, fed at the northern tip of a tyke.
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Simple simulations can be as effective for training purposes as more elaborate ones and can certainly be more cost effective.
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The interior is more elaborate , but has also been more altered in later ages.
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The propagation of Aponogeton from seeds is elaborate and slow and requires special tanks without fish.
II. verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADVERB
further
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The needs of the course of justice prevent me from elaborating further now.
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Airline spokesmen declined to elaborate further Thursday.
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I suppose you wouldn't care to elaborate further ?
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The relevance of autonomy for cognitive development is further elaborated in Chapter 8.
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Background factors further elaborate the variations.
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Louisa began elaborating further examples about other kids, teachers, or parents causing her to forget things.
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I've suggested several simple patterns for you but you can elaborate further on these yourself.
■ NOUN
point
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He then proceeded to elaborate on that point .
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It would be unwise to elaborate on the last point .
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I shall return to, and elaborate on, these points .
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Let us elaborate on these points .
■ VERB
decline
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De Benedetti disclosed that Hewlett-Packard Co had also approached Olivetti for a possible alliance, but declined to elaborate .
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These could include tapping the Federal Financing Bank or a $ 40 billion currency stabilization fund, though Rubin declined to elaborate .
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He said he got a positive reaction from council members to his remarks about Western aid but declined to elaborate .
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Airline spokesmen declined to elaborate further Thursday.
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Doherty said deals with content providers may be announced shortly but declined to elaborate .
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Mr Chandler declined to elaborate on the departures.
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The company said further restructuring plans could follow this announcement but declined to elaborate .
refuse
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Although pressed, McCurry refused to elaborate .
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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I would like now to elaborate upon the points raised in my introduction.
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This argument will be elaborated more fully in the next chapter.
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What exactly do you mean by "traditional education"? Would you care to elaborate ?
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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I say, and wait for him to elaborate .
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I suppose you wouldn't care to elaborate further?
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The process can, of course, be elaborated, on the basis of a suitably detailed marketing strategy.
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These could include tapping the Federal Financing Bank or a $ 40 billion currency stabilization fund, though Rubin declined to elaborate .
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This approach is elaborated in Chapter 5.
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This simple story line was elaborated in the works of Hesiod, Aeschylus, Lucian, Ovid, and others.