elucidate
verb
elu·ci·date i-ˈlü-sə-ˌdāt 
elucidated; elucidating
transitive verb
: to make lucid especially by explanation or analysis
elucidate a text
intransitive verb
: to give a clarifying explanation
elucidation
i-ˌlü-sə-ˈdā-shən
noun elucidative
i-ˈlü-sə-ˌdā-tiv
adjective 
Did you know?
Elucidate comes from the Latin term lucidus, which means "lucid." Lucidus, in turn, comes from the verb lucēre, meaning "to shine." So elucidating can be thought of as the figurative equivalent of shining a light on something to make it easier to see.
Synonyms
- clarify
- clear (up)
- construe
- demonstrate
- demystify
- explain
- explicate
- expound
- get across
- illuminate
- illustrate
- interpret
- simplify
- spell out
- unriddle
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
When asked for details, he declined to elucidate further. colored charts that really help to elucidate the points made in the text
Recent Examples on the Web Then there’s Salvador, who will elucidate Toltec ruins in Tula or the Aztec glyphs of Tepotzotlán but can go deep on Chicago blues, too. 
David Hochman, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022 Myriad efforts are underway to elucidate the condition—or multiple conditions. Erin Prater, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2022 James Bardeen, who helped elucidate the properties and behavior of black holes, setting the stage for what has been called the golden age of black hole astrophysics, died on June 20 in Seattle. New York Times, 3 July 2022 Although qualitative measurements are important and businesses must be profitable to stay alive, the math will not elucidate employers. Ryan Vet, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2021 Authorities have published intricate flow charts to try to elucidate the various routes to tanchuang. Pei-lin Wu, Washington Post, 24 May 2022 Pinterest declined to elucidate whether the difference was due to rounding. Laura Forman, WSJ, 2 May 2022 His vivid descriptions of some of the Parrotheads who have flocked to these developments elucidate Americans’ growing fascination with unconventional retirement scenarios. The New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2022 Parents that participated in the ZURU study also helped to elucidate this point. Jennifer "jay" Palumbo, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2022 See More
David Hochman, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022 Myriad efforts are underway to elucidate the condition—or multiple conditions. Erin Prater, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2022 James Bardeen, who helped elucidate the properties and behavior of black holes, setting the stage for what has been called the golden age of black hole astrophysics, died on June 20 in Seattle. New York Times, 3 July 2022 Although qualitative measurements are important and businesses must be profitable to stay alive, the math will not elucidate employers. Ryan Vet, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2021 Authorities have published intricate flow charts to try to elucidate the various routes to tanchuang. Pei-lin Wu, Washington Post, 24 May 2022 Pinterest declined to elucidate whether the difference was due to rounding. Laura Forman, WSJ, 2 May 2022 His vivid descriptions of some of the Parrotheads who have flocked to these developments elucidate Americans’ growing fascination with unconventional retirement scenarios. The New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2022 Parents that participated in the ZURU study also helped to elucidate this point. Jennifer "jay" Palumbo, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Late Latin elucidatus, past participle of elucidare, from Latin e- + lucidus lucid
First Known Use
circa 1568, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
elucidative
adjective
as in explanative
serving to explain most editions of Shakespeare's plays now have elucidative footnotes to help the modern reader Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- explanative
- interpretive
- interpretative
- illustrative
- illuminative
- explanatory
- expositive
- explicatory
- exegetic
- expository
- analytic
- explicative
- exegetical
- analytical
- discursive
- demonstrative
- exculpatory
- exonerative