Elaboration — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /i-ˈla-bə-ˌrāt/ elab·o·rate

Meaning & Definition of Elaboration

Elaboration (verb)

  1. to expand something in detail
  2. to become elaborate
  3. to work out in detail, develop

Elaboration (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the act or process of going from the simple or basic to the complex or advanced

    "the elaboration of the Internet from an exclusive computer network into a worldwide communications network of colossal proportions"

    similar: development, evolution, expansion, growth, progress, progression
    related: advancement, betterment, improvement, perfection, refinement, incubation, maturation, maturing, ripening, blossoming, flourishing, flowering, addition, augmentation, enhancement, supplementation, emergence, evolvement, metamorphosis
    opposite: regress, regression, retrogression, reversion
    near: backslide, lapse, relapse, decadence, decay, decaying, declension, declination, decline, degeneracy, degeneration, degradation, descent, deterioration, devaluation, downfall, downgrade, ebbing, falling, weakening

  2. the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts

    "the eyewitness was deemed unreliable because of his obvious elaboration of what he had actually seen"

    similar: caricature, coloring, embellishment, embroidering, embroidery, exaggeration, hyperbole, magnification, overstatement, padding, stretching
    related: amplification, enhancement, fabrication, misrepresentation, fudging, hedging, hype, puffery, superlative
    opposite: meiosis, understatement
    near: belittlement, disparagement, minimizing, poor-mouthing

Related Entry: Elaborate (verb)

Elaborate is a different word from Elaboration. The synonyms below are for elaborate, not for elaboration.

  1. to gradually become clearer or more detailed

    "as mankind's understanding of the universe has elaborated"

    similar: develop, evolve, unfold
    related: advance, fare, forge, get along, get on, march, proceed, progress, blossom, grow, mature, ripen, materialize, emerge, play out

Related Entry: Elaborate (on) (verb)

Elaborate (on) is a different word from Elaboration. The synonyms below are for elaborate (on), not for elaboration.

  1. to add to the interest of by including made-up details

    "my friend tends to elaborate on his hiking experiences, turning an ordinary walk in the woods into a hair-raising adventure"

    similar: color, embellish, embroider, exaggerate, hyperbolize, magnify, pad, stretch
    related: dress up, gussy up, amplify, enhance, enlarge (on or upon), expand, flesh (out), fudge, hedge, overdo, overdraw, overemphasize, overplay, overstate, emphasize, play up, stress, caricature, satirize
    near: belittle, minimize, play down, understate

  2. to express more fully and in greater detail

    "the candidate for governor refused to elaborate on how she would balance the state's budget"

    similar: amplify, develop, dilate (on or upon), enlarge (on or upon), expand, flesh (out)
    related: add (to), complement, supplement, discourse, expatiate, ramble, run on
    opposite: abbreviate, abridge, condense, shorten
    near: compress, contract, outline, summarize, sum up

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Elaboration

The most common words with a similar meaning to Elaboration:

development, evolution, expansion, growth, progress, progression, caricature, coloring, embellishment, embroidering, embroidery, exaggeration, hyperbole, magnification, overstatement, padding, stretching

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Elaboration

Words with the opposite meaning of Elaboration:

regress, regression, retrogression, reversion, meiosis, understatement

Related Words for Elaboration

advancement, betterment, improvement, perfection, refinement, incubation, maturation, maturing, ripening, blossoming, flourishing, flowering, addition, augmentation, enhancement, supplementation, emergence, evolvement, metamorphosis, amplification, fabrication, misrepresentation, fudging, hedging, hype, puffery, superlative

Near Antonyms of Elaboration

backslide, lapse, relapse, decadence, decay, decaying, declension, declination, decline, degeneracy, degeneration, degradation, descent, deterioration, devaluation, downfall, downgrade, ebbing, falling, weakening, belittlement, disparagement, minimizing, poor-mouthing

Word Forms of Elaboration

Inflections: elaborated, elaborating

Derived words: elaboration (noun), elaborative (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Elaboration

First known use: 1611t

Frequently Asked Questions about Elaboration

What does "Elaboration" mean?

"Elaboration" means to expand something in detail. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to expand something in detail. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Elaboration"?

Other words for "Elaboration" include development, evolution, expansion, growth, progress, progression, caricature and coloring. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Elaboration" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Elaboration"?

There are 44 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Elaboration". Common alternatives include development, evolution, expansion, growth, progress, progression, caricature, coloring, embellishment and embroidering.

What is the opposite of "Elaboration"?

Antonyms of "Elaboration" include regress, regression, retrogression, reversion, meiosis and understatement. Near antonyms include backslide, lapse, relapse and decadence.

How do you use "Elaboration" in a sentence?

Examples of "Elaboration" in a sentence: "the elaboration of the Internet from an exclusive computer network into a worldwide communications network of colossal proportions"; "the eyewitness was deemed unreliable because of his obvious elaboration of what he had actually seen".

Is "Elaboration" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Elaboration" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Elaboration"?

"Elaboration" is pronounced /i-ˈla-bə-ˌrāt/ and divided into syllables as elab·o·rate.

What is the origin of the word "Elaboration"?

First known use: 1611t.