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Elaborate vs Illustrate - What's the difference?

elaborate | illustrate |

As verbs the difference between elaborate and illustrate

is that elaborate is (used with on when used with an object) To give further detail or explanation (about) while illustrate is to shed light upon; to illuminate.

As an adjective elaborate

is highly complex, detailed, or sophisticated.

elaborate

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Highly complex, detailed, or sophisticated.
  • :
  • Intricate, fancy, flashy, or showy.
  • :
  • *
  • *:The house was a big elaborate limestone affair, evidently new. Winter sunshine sparkled on lace-hung casement, on glass marquise, and the burnished bronze foliations of grille and door.

    • Verb

    (elaborat)
  • (used with'' on ''when used with an object ) To give further detail or explanation (about).
    • What do you mean you didn't come home last night? Would you care to elaborate ?
    Could you elaborate on the plot for your novel for me?

    illustrate

    English

    Verb

    (illustrat)
  • (obsolete) To shed light upon; to illuminate.
  • * Were the Moon smooth, as a looking glass, a very small part would be seen by any particular eye to be illustrated by the Sun.
  • * Chapman
    • Here, when the moon illustrates all the sky.
  • To clarify something by giving, or serving as, an example or a comparison.
  • * Milton
    • To prove him, and illustrate his high worth.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=September 7 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Moldova 0-5 England , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=England were graphically illustrating the huge gulf in class between the sides and it was no surprise when Lampard added the second just before the half hour. Steven Gerrard found his Liverpool team-mate Glen Johnson and Lampard arrived in the area with perfect timing to glide a header beyond Namasco.}}
  • * We illustrate our definitions by including quotations or simple examples.
  • To provide a book or other publication with pictures, diagrams or other explanatory or decorative features.
  • * The economics textbook was illustrated with many graphs.
  • (obsolete) To give renown or honour to; to make illustrious; to glorify.
  • * Milton
    • Matter to me of glory, whom their hate / Illustrates .

    References

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