Basic Details
Word: Elucidate
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To explain something clearly so that it becomes easy to understand.
Synonyms: explain, clarify, illuminate
Antonyms: confuse, obscure, complicate
Word origin: Comes from Latin elucidare, to make light, from lux, light.
How to Spell Elucidate
Syllables: e - lu - ci - date
Tricky part: After the l comes u, then ci for the s sound: e-lu-ci-date. Elusidate, with an s, is the commonest mistake.
Watch out for: elusidate, elucidait, ellucidate
Memory tip: Lucid means clear, and it sits right inside the word: e + lucid + ate. To elucidate is to make something lucid.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Could you elucidate the second step of the experiment?
Example 2: The teacher used a diagram to elucidate how the heart pumps blood.
Example 3: The minister refused to elucidate his remarks to the reporters.
Fun Fact
The Latin lux, light, also gives the scientific unit lux, which measures how much light falls on a surface.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct letters to complete the word:
el_c_date
a) u, e
b) i, i
c) o, i
d) u, i
Show answer
d) u, i. The word lucid is hidden inside, and it gives both vowels: u after the l, i after the c.
Spell-o-Spell
Three of these words are spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word:
1. paraphrase 2. summarise 3. elusidate 4. obscure
a) to give the main points briefly
b) to explain something clearly
c) to say something again in different words
d) to hide something or make it hard to see
Show answer
b) to explain something clearly. The s sound in elucidate is written with a c; obscure, paraphrase and summarise are correct.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word elucidate as used in the sentence:
The scientist was asked to elucidate her results so that farmers could understand them.
a) interpret
b) explain
c) clarify
d) confuse
Show answer
d) confuse. Explain, clarify and interpret all make meaning clearer; to confuse is to make it muddier.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. If a teacher elucidates a poem, she ____.
a) writes a new one
b) makes its meaning clear
c) learns it by heart
d) reads it silently
Show answer
b) makes its meaning clear
2. Which of these would best elucidate a hard sum?
a) a new pencil
b) a worked example
c) a louder voice
d) a longer exam
Show answer
b) a worked example
