MEANING
to make something clearer by explaining it
Use it for
Words that belong together
- elucidate a mechanism
- elucidate the meaning
- elucidate a distinction
On the page
The example elucidates the distinction between the two terms.
Further research may elucidate the mechanism.
The commentary elucidates an otherwise obscure reference.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- elucidate / elucidates
- Past tense
- elucidated
- Past participle
- elucidated
- Present participle
- elucidating
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- elucidate / elucidates
- Present continuous
- am/is/are elucidating
- Present perfect
- have/has elucidated
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been elucidating
- Past
- elucidated
- Past continuous
- was/were elucidating
- Past perfect
- had elucidated
- Past perfect continuous
- had been elucidating
- Future
- will elucidate / elucidates
- Future continuous
- will be elucidating
- Future perfect
- will have elucidated
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been elucidating
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Primary curation section: Academic. Formal; emphasizes clarification of something difficult or obscure rather than simply adding more material. elucidate; elucidates; elucidated; elucidated; elucidating. Related noun: elucidation.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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