adjective , verb
■ adjective
/ ɪˈlæbərət; NAmE / [ usually before noun ] very complicated and detailed; carefully prepared and organized :
elaborate designs
She had prepared a very elaborate meal.
an elaborate computer system
► elab·or·ate·ly adverb :
an elaborately decorated room
► elab·or·ate·ness noun [ U ]
■ verb / ɪˈlæbəreɪt/
1.
~ (on / upon sth) to explain or describe sth in a more detailed way :
[ v ]
He said he was resigning but did not elaborate on his reasons.
[ vn ]
She went on to elaborate her argument.
[also v speech ]
2.
[ vn ] to develop a plan, an idea, etc. and make it complicated or detailed :
In his plays he takes simple traditional tales and elaborates them.
► elab·or·ation / ɪˌlæbəˈreɪʃn; NAmE / noun [ U , C ]:
The importance of the plan needs no further elaboration.
••
WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent. (in the sense produced by effort of labour ): from Latin elaborat- worked out, from the verb elaborare , from e- (variant of ex- ) out + labor work.