What does expound mean?
Word: Expound
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Expound means to explain an idea or theory in detail.
Synonyms: explain, set out
Word origin: Comes through Old French from Latin exponere, built on ponere.
How do you spell expound?
Syllables: ex - pound
Tricky part: The ow sound in the second part is spelt ou, so expownd is a common slip.
Watch out for: expownd, expond
Memory tip: A teacher who expounds speaks out loud, and both out and loud carry the letters you need.
Expound in a sentence
Example 1: In her talk, the young engineer expounded her plan for cleaning the river.
Example 2: The book expounds a simple method for learning new languages.
Example 3: Grandmother loves to expound her rules for a perfect cup of chai.
Fun Fact
In Middle English the word was usually written expoune. The final d came later, just as it did in compound.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Fusion
Choose the two parts that make a word meaning 'to explain an idea fully, in speech or writing':
1. im 2. pound 3. ex 4. port 5. pro 6. pose
a) 2 and 3
b) 1 and 4
c) 5 and 6
d) 3 and 6
Show answer
a) 2 and 3. Other pairs make real words, but they mean to bring in goods, to suggest and to reveal.
Back to the Roots
Choose the correct option: Expound comes from the Latin word ponere. What did ponere mean?
a) to carry
b) to write
c) to speak
d) to put
Show answer
d) to put. When you expound an idea, you put it out in the open for others to see.
Word Champ
Choose the correct word for the blank:
The visiting scientist will ___ her theory of how honeybees find their way home.
a) rebound
b) expound
c) impound
d) astound
Show answer
b) expound. A theory is something you explain; the other three verbs do not fit it.
Spell Spies
Choose the misspelt word/s in the given sentence:
Our history teacher will often ekspound on the Mauryan empire, and her lessons on old trade routes are never dull.
a) empire and trade
b) only routes
c) only ekspound
d) ekspound and routes
Show answer
c) only ekspound. The word starts with ex, and everything else in the sentence is spelt correctly.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. If a guide expounds the history of the Red Fort, what will visitors get?
a) a quick list of ticket prices
b) a full talk on each stage of its past
c) a small souvenir to take home
d) a short map of the way out
Show answer
b) a full talk on each stage of its past
2. Which setting suits the word expound best?
a) a driver stopping at a red light
b) a child asking for a glass of water
c) a professor lecturing on a theory
d) a shopper paying for some apples
Show answer
c) a professor lecturing on a theory
