e|lab´o|rate|ly

e|lab|o|rate «adjective. ih LAB uhr iht, -LAB riht; verb. ih LAB uh rayt», adjective, verb, -rat|ed, -rat|ing.

–adj.

worked out with great care; having many details; complicated: »

an elaborate banquet. The scientists made elaborate plans for landing a man on the moon. He read Shakespeare, and made an elaborate study of his method (John Morley).

–v.t.

1. to work out with great care; add details to: »

The inventor spent months in elaborating his plans for a new engine.

2. to make with labor; produce.

–v.i.

to talk, write, or plan in great detail; give added details: »

The witness was asked to elaborate on one of his statements.

╂[< Latin ēlabōrātus, past participle of ēlabōrāre < ex- out + labor, -oris work]

–e|lab´o|rate|ly, adverb.

–e|lab´o|rate|ness, noun.

Synonym Study adjective. Elaborate, studied, labored mean worked out in detail. Elaborate emphasizes the idea many details worked out with great care and exactness: »

The elaborate decorations were perfect in every detail.

Studied emphasizes care in planning and working out details beforehand: »

Studied politeness is insulting.

Labored emphasizes great and unnatural effort to work out details: »

The boy gave a labored excuse for arriving late at school.