What does elaborate mean?
Word: Elaborate
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Elaborate means full of many small parts or details; carefully planned or made. As a verb, to elaborate means to explain something in more detail.
Synonyms: detailed, fancy, complex
Antonyms: plain
How do you spell elaborate?
Syllables: e - lab - o - rate
Tricky part: The middle is lab, followed by an o: elaberate is the usual mistake.
Watch out for: elaberate, elabarate
Memory tip: Find the lab in the middle of the word, followed by an o: scientists in a lab make elaborate plans.
Elaborate in a sentence
Example 1: The bride wore an elaborate lehenga with gold thread work.
Example 2: Grandma cooked an elaborate meal with ten dishes for Pongal.
Example 3: The guide stopped to elaborate on how the old fort was built.
Fun Fact
Elaborate comes from a Latin verb meaning to work something out with great effort, which suits a carefully made plan.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word:
elaborate
a) complicated
b) simple
c) intricate
d) ornate
Show answer
b) simple. A simple drawing has few details; an elaborate one is crowded with them.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
elaborrate
a) l
b) r
c) o
d) b
Show answer
b) r. The ending rate needs only one r, like the rate in separate.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the correctly spelt word:
a) magnificient
b) intricite
c) ornamantal
d) elaborate
Show answer
d) elaborate. Intricate ends in cate, magnificent has no i before the e, and ornamental has an e after the m.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
brtaeaole
a) celebrate
b) evaporate
c) deliberate
d) elaborate
Show answer
d) elaborate. Each of the other words needs a letter the jumble lacks: a v, a c or a d.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which is an elaborate design?
a) a single straight chalk line
b) a small dot in the middle
c) a plain square in one colour
d) a rangoli with hundreds of patterns
Show answer
d) a rangoli with hundreds of patterns
2. Elaborate is a verb in only one of these. Which one?
a) Can you elaborate on your idea?
b) She wore an elaborate dress.
c) The cake had an elaborate design.
d) It was an elaborate plan.
Show answer
a) Can you elaborate on your idea?
