elaborate

Universal Words adjective, verb adjective [usuallybeforenoun] very complicated and detailed; carefully prepared and organized: elaborate designs / decorations * She had prepared a very elaborate meal. * an elaborate computer system elaborately adverb: an elaborately decorated room verb 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 Vspeech] 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. elaboration noun [U,C]: the elaboration of an idea / a theory * The importance of the plan needs no further elaboration. \