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explicate

Syllabification: (ex·pli·cate)
Pronunciation: /ˈekspliˌkāt/

Definition of explicate

verb

[with object]
  • analyze and develop (an idea or principle) in detail:attempting to explicate the relationship between crime and economic forces
  • analyze (a literary work) in order to reveal its meaning.

Derivatives

explication

Pronunciation: /ˌekspliˈkāSHən/

noun

explicative

Pronunciation: /-ˌkātiv/

adjective

explicator

Pronunciation: /-ˌkātər/

noun

explicatory

Pronunciation: /ikˈsplikəˌtôrē/

adjective

Origin:

mid 16th century: from Latin explicat- 'unfolded', from the verb explicare, from ex- 'out' + plicare 'to fold'

explicate in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of explicate in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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