elaboratee‧lab‧o‧rate1 /ɪˈlæbərət/ ●●○ adjective 
pure silks embroidered with elaborate patterns► see thesaurus at complicated2carefully planned and organized in great detail SYN complex: a very elaborate telecommunications network—elaborately adverb: an elaborately carved wooden statue
WORD ORIGINelaborate1
Origin:
1400-1500 Latin elaboratus, past participle of elaborare ‘to work out’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Elaborate murals had been painted on three of the four walls.
- an elaborate tattoo of an eagle
- Cho and Lee celebrated their new partnership at an elaborate banquet.
- Mike had worked out an elaborate system for categorizing his collection of CDs.
- Nick examined the elaborate carvings on the tomb.
- She had prepared an elaborate excuse for her absence.
- Sociologists have been coming up with increasingly elaborate theories to explain unsafe sexual practices.
- The diaries have been published in one volume, with elaborate biographical notes by Professor Emson.
- The lawyer had concocted an elaborate defence that gave a totally false impression of what happened.
- After our return to Wichita, the master worked out an elaborate tour, with a record number of weekly performances.
- But Frank Bascombe, for all his hapless domestic incompetence and elaborate self-pity, was interesting and kind of likable.
- He did not typically employ elaborate statistics to test hypotheses or use control groups in his research.
- Police said they were elaborate devices, of similar construction, designed to give the impression they were bombs.
- Seven ruff, without as yet their elaborate courtship adornments, fed at the northern tip of a tyke.
- Simple simulations can be as effective for training purposes as more elaborate ones and can certainly be more cost effective.
- The interior is more elaborate, but has also been more altered in later ages.
- The propagation of Aponogeton from seeds is elaborate and slow and requires special tanks without fish.
THESAURUS
consisting of a lot of different parts or details and therefore difficult to understand: · The rules of the game seemed very complicated.· I didn’t realize programming the VCR would be so complicated.· The brain is like a very powerful, very complicated computer.· a complicated issue
a complex process, relationship etc is difficult to understand because it has a lot of parts that are all connected in different ways: · The chemical processes involved are extremely complex.· the complex relationship between government and the media
having a lot of parts or details and very carefully planned, but often more complicated than is necessary: · Mike had worked out an elaborate system for categorizing his collection of DVDs.· The plan to kidnap her had become even more elaborate.· Sociologists have been coming up with increasingly elaborate theories to explain unsafe sexual practices.
very long and complicated – use this especially about something that you think should be made simpler: · The system for choosing candidates is very involved, and I won’t go into it here.· Adopting a child can be a long involved process.
too complicated and difficult to understand – used especially about someone’s language or arguments, or about a system: · convoluted sentences· Procedures for government funding have become more convoluted.· James’s books are full of long paragraphs and convoluted sentences, which many people do not find appealing.
having a lot of small parts or details – used especially about something that is cleverly designed or made: · Lasers are used to cut intricate designs in the metal.· The farmers use an intricate system of drainage canals.· the intricate workings of a watch· intricate patterns of coloured marble
Longman Language Activatorhaving a lot of different parts and difficult to understand consisting of a lot of different parts or details and therefore difficult to understand: · I didn't realize programming the VCR would be so complicated.· The brain is like a very powerful, very complicated computer.· the complicated problem of bringing peace to the Middle East
a complex process or system is difficult to understand because it has a lot of parts that are all connected in different ways: · The chemical processes involved in the experiment are extremely complex.· The seminar focuses on the complex relationship between government, the military, and the media.
having a lot of small parts or details - use this especially about something that is cleverly designed or made: · Lasers are used to cut intricate designs in wood.· The farmers use an intricate system of drainage canals.· the intricate workings of a watch· intricate patterns of coloured marble
having a lot of parts or details and very carefully planned, but often more complicated than is necessary: · Mike had worked out an elaborate system for categorizing his collection of CDs.· Sociologists have been coming up with increasingly elaborate theories to explain unsafe sexual practices.
very long and complicated - use this about a system, description, or explanation that you think should be made simpler: · The system for choosing candidates is very involved, and I won't go into it here.· Adopting a child can be a long involved process.
much too long and complicated, and therefore confusing and annoying: · The book begins with a long, tortuous introduction.· At last, an end to the tortuous negotiations was in sight.
too complicated and difficult to understand - use this especially about someone's language or arguments, or about a system: · He always uses a lot of convoluted arguments to support his theories, but no one's ever impressed.· James's books are full of long paragraphs and convoluted sentences, which many people do not find appealing.
having a lot of decoration fancy clothes, patterns etc have a lot of decoration or bright colours - use this especially when you think something has too much decoration: · a velvet jacket with fancy buttons· The Web site has a lot of fancy graphics.
an ornate object, picture, or part of a building has a lot of expensive or complicated decoration on it: · A pair of ornate gold candlesticks stood on the altar.· The ornate interior of the opera house was almost overwhelming.
carefully and skilfully decorated with a lot of small details: · Nick examined the elaborate carvings on the tomb.· Elaborate murals had been painted on three of the four walls.
with a lot of details a detailed description, explanation, picture etc contains a lot of details: · The police have issued a detailed description of the man they are looking for.· Do you have a more detailed map of the area?· Her biography is clear, detailed, and illuminating.
if you discuss or consider something in detail , you discuss or consider all the details: · I haven't had time to look at the plans in detail yet.in more/greater detail: · This problem is discussed in more detail in Chapter 7.in great detail: · Fortunately, she was able to describe her attacker in great detail.in some detail: · The layout of the house had been described to me in some detail.
carefully produced and full of details: · The diaries have been published in one volume, with elaborate biographical notes by Professor Emson.· The lawyer had concocted an elaborate defence that gave a totally false impression of what happened.an elaborate excuse: · She had prepared an elaborate excuse for her absence.
to include a lot of details when you are describing or explaining something: · Without going into detail, I can tell you that we have had a very successful year.· Be brief. If you go into too much detail people will get bored.· Chapter 1 is a brief outline of the process, then the next chapter goes into all the technical details.
to state something exactly and with full details, so that what you want, what must be done etc is completely clear: · The order specifies a December deadline for completion of the work.specify that: · The rules clearly specify that competitors are not allowed to accept payment.specify which/where/ how etc: · Architects usually specify which particular hardwood they want to use.
a full and detailed description of an event, in which everything that happened is described in correct order - use this especially when you want to say that this is boring and unnecessary: · His memoirs are simply a blow-by-blow account of battles, and contain very little personal comment or reflection.
thorough, and giving as much detail as possible: · The committee has ordered an in-depth study of juvenile crime.· We shall be conducting a series of in-depth interviews with economic experts.· The aim of the neighbourhood studies was to obtain in-depth information from a number of selected communities.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES an elaborate hoax
1having a lot of small parts or details put together in a complicated way SYN intricate: · The inhabitants of the town organized a grand ceremony to mark the occasion.
an elaborate hoax· Her parents didn’t realise that it was all an elaborate lie.
(=a lot of detailed precautions)· Elaborate precautions were taken to avoid disputes between the representatives.
(=one that is carefully planned and done, but obviously not true or real)· He made an elaborate pretence of yawning and said he was going to bed.
· The proposal has to get through an elaborate system of committees.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· The new factory made it possible for the company to produce increasingly elaborate garments.· Moreover, with time and aided by the debate, the accepted ideas become increasingly elaborate.· Most surviving examples date from the eighteenth century, by which time the decoration became increasingly elaborate and stylised.
· Some biochemists have built up quite elaborate blueprints for forms of life utterly different from our own.· There are several quite elaborate private lists in existence, but none of these has yet been published.· This involved quite elaborate dressing-up, and the fun and laughter of those Boxing Day nights was a treasure indeed.· A correlator's input consists of examples with just a few features which can be quite elaborate.
· Since coal is formed from plants, which are chemically very complicated, its own chemical make-up is very elaborate.· Yet the church is a very elaborate structure with evidence of a Norman nave and elaborate stone-vaulted chancel.· Despite a very elaborate legal code on the use of pesticides, introduced in 1973, the situation remains unchanged.
NOUN· It was still not clear last night whether the tapes were an elaborate hoax.· This was nothing but an elaborate hoax perpetrated by her in revenge for all the suffering I had caused her.
· It was a hell of an elaborate plan just for a wind-up.· Of course, Aunt Rose had elaborate plans for her own death and dispersal.· Despite the elaborate plans, there were few takers.
· The elaborate rituals surrounding the preparation of the icon are not without purpose or effect.· There are elaborate rituals of atonement to be found there.
· This aspect of the deal was necessary because Altus Finance needed to unwind an elaborate scheme it had concocted in 1991.
· In the weeks following the dinner Lutyens swiftly drew up an elaborate set of plans.
· For elaborate structures stick rocks together with silicone sealant, but let it cure completely before putting it into your tank water.· Although the rules which provide its definition are surprisingly simple, the set itself exhibits an endless variety of highly elaborate structure.· Their cells have the most elaborate structure.· Yet the church is a very elaborate structure with evidence of a Norman nave and elaborate stone-vaulted chancel.· Many of those that live in the sea secrete shells with the most elaborate structure of silica or lime.
· An elaborate system of rain-water drains can be seen, reconstructed by Evans, at the East Entrance.· An elaborate system of spectral classes has been established by a persistent cadre of asteroid observers.· In 1882, this elaborate system was extended further.· Good luck, bad luck, an elaborate system of beliefs, superstitions, symbols.· The main purpose of this elaborate system was almost certainly profit for the king.· Examination of particular species seems to show elaborate systems for enhancing cross-pollination.· An elaborate system of nozzles and fan-draught cowls minimises the risks of lead-poisoning.
pure silks embroidered with elaborate patterns► see thesaurus at complicated2carefully planned and organized in great detail SYN complex: a very elaborate telecommunications network—elaborately adverb: an elaborately carved wooden statue