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elaborate   (elaborates 3rd person present) (elaborating present participle) (elaborated past tense & past participle )
The adjective is pronounced [PH:I][PH:l][PH:G][PH:b][PH:&][PH:r][PH:&][PH:t]. The verb is pronounced [PH:I][PH:l][PH:G][PH:b][PH:&][PH:r][PH:e][PH:I][PH:t].  
1  adj You use elaborate to describe something that is very complex because it has a lot of different parts. 
usu ADJ n  (=complicated) 
...an elaborate research project., ...an elaborate ceremony that lasts for eight days.  
2  adj Elaborate plans, systems, and procedures are complicated because they have been planned in very great detail, sometimes too much detail. 
usu ADJ n  (=complicated) 
...elaborate efforts at the highest level to conceal the problem., ...an elaborate management training scheme for graduates.  
♦  elaborately  adv 
It was clearly an elaborately planned operation.  
3  adj Elaborate clothing or material is made with a lot of detailed artistic designs. 
usu ADJ n 
He is known for his elaborate costumes.  
♦  elaborately  adv 
...elaborately costumed dolls.  
4  verb If you elaborate a plan or theory, you develop it by making it more complicated and more effective. 
His task was to elaborate policies which would make a market economy compatible with a clean environment.  V n 
♦  elaboration  n-uncount oft N of n 
...the elaboration of specific policies and mechanisms.  
5  verb If you elaborate on something that has been said, you say more about it, or give more details. 
A spokesman declined to elaborate on a statement released late yesterday...  V on n 
Would you care to elaborate?  V 

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"Collins Cobuild English Dictionary for Advanced Learners 4th edition published in 2003 © HarperCollins Publishers 1987, 1995, 2001, 2003 and Collins A-Z Thesaurus 1st edition first published in 1995 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995"