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| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | explain in speech, writing |
| Synonyms: | call, characterize, chronicle, communicate, construe, convey image, define, delineate, depict, detail, distinguish, draw, elucidate, epitomize, exemplify, explicate, expound, express, illuminate, illustrate, image, impart, interpret, label, limn, make apparent, make clear, make sense of, make vivid, mark out, name, narrate, outline, paint, particularize, picture, portray, recite, recount, rehearse, relate, report, represent, sketch, specify, state, tell, term, trace, transmit, write up |
| Antonyms: | confuse, misrepresent, mix up |
| Main Entry: | define |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | give description |
| Synonyms: | ascertain, assign, call a spade a spade, characterize, construe, decide, delineate, denominate, denote, describe, designate, detail, determine, dub, elucidate, entitle, etch, exemplify, explain, expound, formalize, illustrate, interpret, label, lay it out, nail it down, name, prescribe, represent, specify, spell out, tag, translate |
| Antonyms: | confuse, distort, tangle, twist |
| Main Entry: | demonstrate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | explain, illustrate |
| Synonyms: | confirm, debunk, describe, express, give for instance, make clear, ostend, proclaim, set forth, show how, teach, testify to, walk one through |
| Antonyms: | confuse, distort, falsify, misrepresent |
| Main Entry: | design |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | plan, outline |
| Synonyms: | accomplish, achieve, arrange, block out, blueprint, cast, chart, construct, contrive, create, delineate, describe, devise, diagram, dope out, draft, draw, effect, execute, fashion, form, frame, fulfill, invent, lay out, perform, produce, project, set out, sketch, sketch out, trace, work out |
| Antonyms: | disorder, disorganize |
| Main Entry: | designate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | specify as selection |
| Synonyms: | allocate, allot, appoint, apportion, appropriate, assign, authorize, button down, characterize, charge, choose, commission, connote, constitute, define, delegate, denote, depute, deputize, describe, dictate, earmark*, elect, evidence, favor, finger*, indicate, individualize, make, mark, mete, name, nominate, opt, peg, pick, pin down, pinpoint, prefer, put down for, reseve, set apart, set aside, show, single, slot, stipulate, tab, tag*, tap* |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | detail |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | specify, make clear |
| Synonyms: | analyze, catalog, circumstantiate, communicate, delineate, depict, describe, designate, elaborate, embellish, enumerate, epitomize, exhibit, fly speck, get down to brass tacks, individualize, itemize, lay out, narrate, particularize, portray, produce, quote chapter and verse, recapitulate, recite, recount, rehearse, relate, report, reveal, set forth, show, specialize, spell out, spread, stipulate, summarize, sweat details, tell, uncover |
| Antonyms: | hide, misrepresent, suppress, withhold |
| Main Entry: | draw |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | create a likeness in a picture |
| Synonyms: | caricature, chart, compose, crayon, delineate, depict, describe, design, draft, engrave, etch, express, form, formulate, frame, graph, limn, map out, mark, model, outline, paint, pencil, portray, prepare, profile, sketch, trace, write |
| Main Entry: | etch |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | carve |
| Synonyms: | compose, corrode, cut, define, delineate, depict, describe, eat into, engrave, erode, execute, furrow, grave, impress, imprint, incise, ingrain, inscribe, outline, picture, portray, reduce, represent, set forth, stamp |
| Main Entry: | explain |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make clear; give a reason for |
| Synonyms: | account for, analyze, annotate, break down, bring out, clarify, clear up, construe, decipher, define, demonstrate, describe, diagram, disclose, elucidate, excuse, explicate, expound, get across, go into detail, illustrate, interpret, justify, make plain, manifest, paraphrase, point out, put across, put in plain English, rationalize, read, refine, render, resolve, reveal, set right, solve, spell out, teach, tell, throw light upon, translate, unfold, unravel, untangle |
| Notes: | explicate also contains the implication that the something of which an account is being given is more complicated or detailed - so while one may explain why a child is crying, one would explicate the meaning of a poem or implications of a legal document; early senses of explain were 'smooth out' and 'spread flat' |
| Antonyms: | be vague, complicate, confuse, mystify, obscure, perplex |
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
