expatiate

/ɛkˈspeɪʃiˌeɪt/

Other forms: expatiated; expatiating; expatiates

The verb expatiate means "to add details to in order to clear up." If your story is confusing to everyone who hears it, certain key parts must be missing. Better expatiate so that people can understand it.

To pronounce expatiate correctly, accent the second syllable: "ex-PAY-she-ate." When you expatiate on a piece of writing, you add details. The goal is to make your ideas clearer to readers, perhaps by offering an example to help them understand. Teachers can tell when you are expatiating and when you are just adding to what you've written, say, to reach a certain length requirement. That's usually called "padding."

Definitions of expatiate

1. verb

   add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing
   synonyms: dilate, elaborate, enlarge, expand, exposit, expound, flesh out

   types:

   detail

   provide details for

   exposit, expound, set forth

   state

   exemplify, illustrate, instance

   clarify by giving an example of

   particularise, particularize, specialise, specialize, specify

   be specific about

   depict, describe, draw

   give a description of

   premise

   set forth beforehand, often as an explanation

   spell out

   make explicit; specify in detail

   type of:

   clarify, clear up, elucidate

   make clear and (more) comprehensible