define and elaborate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "define and elaborate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want someone to provide a clear definition followed by a detailed explanation of a concept or term. Example: "In your essay, please define and elaborate on the concept of sustainability to provide a comprehensive understanding for your readers."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But the new work is stirring interest in academic circles because it tries to define and elaborate on cultural differences through a series of tightly controlled laboratory experiments.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The concerns have not, however, been sufficiently well conceptualized to form traditions of study capable of defining and elaborating the nature of these problems.

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology

The concepts relating to risk have been defined and elaborated to such an extent that they are a fundamental means of communicating the relative meaning of a failure in the context of the real world marketplace.

International Journal of Fatigue

It defines and elaborates a critical anthropological approach using Marx's notion of 'social praxis' and Latour's idea of 'modes of existence' to highlight the theoretical contribution of anthropologists exploring beyond traditional divides over social agency through studies of grassroots participative responses to contemporary socio-economic crises.

Accounting, Organizations and Society

We now define and briefly elaborate on (total) degree centrality and betweenness centrality, the focal measures in this paper.

Computational Social Networks

Defining, naming and elaborating and cross-checking themes across the range of data.

International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy

. This Committee, open to all Member States of the United Nations, has played a key role in defining and elaborating national and international approaches to overcome food insecurity.

FAO

In simple, blunt language he exalts "quality," "warmth," "feeling," "truth" and "beauty," without trying to define or elaborate on those concepts.

The New York Times

Care providers who are not medical doctors tend to perform a more global (whole body) examination than those who are medical doctors, mainly to define causes of the disease and elaborate the therapeutic program.

Plosone

Prokaryotes and eukaryotes both speciate profligately, meaning that genetic variation falls into innumerable discrete clusters, which correspond to species as defined by Darwin and elaborated by Mallet [ 55].

Biology Direct

The backgrounds are now elaborated, defined and bereft of the garish, grating poison orange of 1944".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "define and elaborate", ensure that the definition is concise and the elaboration provides sufficient detail and context for the audience. This combination is particularly useful in academic and technical writing where clarity and depth are essential.

Common error

Avoid providing a definition without sufficient elaboration. A definition alone may not provide enough understanding, so always ensure you expand on the definition with examples, context, and further explanation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "define and elaborate" is to act as a compound verb phrase within a sentence, typically used to instruct or request a specific action. It indicates a need for both a concise definition and a detailed explanation, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "define and elaborate" serves as a compound verb phrase instructing a user to provide both a definition and a more thorough explanation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. The contexts in which it frequently occurs are predominantly scientific, news media, and formal business domains, emphasizing its suitability for academic and professional settings. When using this phrase, remember that clarity and depth are key. Always provide a concise definition followed by a detailed elaboration that expands on the definition and provides sufficient context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

define and explain

Replaces 'elaborate' with 'explain', focusing on making something understandable.

define and clarify

Replaces 'elaborate' with 'clarify', emphasizing the removal of ambiguity.

explain and expand

Replaces 'define' with 'explain' and 'elaborate' with 'expand', focusing on detailed explanation and further development.

clarify and develop

Combines clarifying with the notion of further development, suitable when refinement and expansion are both intended.

delineate and expound

Uses more formal synonyms for 'define' and 'elaborate', suitable for academic or legal contexts.

specify and detail

Focuses on providing specific information and going into greater detail.

identify and describe

Shifts the focus to identifying elements before providing a description, suitable when recognition is key.

outline and amplify

Provides a summary followed by further enhancement and detail.

state and illustrate

Focuses on declaring a statement and then providing examples or demonstrations.

determine and explicate

Emphasizes determination of meaning and a detailed explanation.

FAQs

How can I use "define and elaborate" in a sentence?

You can use "define and elaborate" when you want someone to provide a clear definition followed by a detailed explanation of a concept or term. For example: "In your essay, please "define and elaborate" on the concept of sustainability to provide a comprehensive understanding for your readers."

What can I say instead of "define and elaborate"?

You can use alternatives like "define and explain", "explain and expand", or "clarify and develop" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "define and elaborate" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "define and elaborate" in academic, technical, or formal writing where clarity and a thorough understanding of concepts are necessary. It is useful when a simple definition is not enough and more detailed explanation is needed.

What's the difference between "define and elaborate" and "define and describe"?

"Define and elaborate" implies providing a clear definition followed by a detailed explanation, while "define and describe" focuses more on providing a definition and then giving a descriptive account of the subject. "Define and elaborate" suggests a deeper dive into understanding, whereas "define and describe" focuses on characteristics and features.