| Main Entry: | construe |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | deduce; explain |
Synonyms: |
analyze, decipher, define, explicate, expound, figure it to be, infer, interpret, one's best guess, parse, read, render, spell out, take, translate, understand |
| Main Entry: | annotate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | write explanatory notes |
Synonyms: |
comment, commentate, construe, define, elucidate, explain, expound, footnote, gloss, illustrate, interpret, note, remark |
| Main Entry: | comment |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make statement of opinion, explanation |
Synonyms: |
affirm, animadvert, annotate, assert, bring out, clarify, commentate, conclude, construe, criticize, disclose, elucidate, explain, explicate, expound, express, gloss, illustrate, interject, interpose, interpret, mention, note, notice, observe, opine, pass on, point out, pronounce, reflect, remark, say, state, touch upon |
Antonyms: |
keep quiet, refrain |
| Main Entry: | decipher |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | figure out, understand |
Synonyms: |
analyze, break, break down, bring out, cipher, construe, crack, decode, deduce, disentangle, dope out, elucidate, encipher, explain, expound, find the key, interpret, make clear, make out, puzzle out, read, render, reveal, solve, spell, translate, unfold, unravel, unriddle |
Antonyms: |
code, encode, scramble |
| 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: | describe |
| 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: | 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 |
| Main Entry: | explicate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | clarify, expand |
Synonyms: |
amplify, clear up, construe, demonstrate, develop, dilate, elucidate, enlarge upon, enucleate, expatiate, explain, expound, give the big picture, illustrate, interpret, make clear, make explicit, make plain, run down, spell out, tell why, unfold, untangle, work out |
Antonyms: |
cloud, complicate, confuse, mystify, obscure, tangle |
| Main Entry: | expound |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | talk about in great detail |
Synonyms: |
clarify, comment, construe, delineate, describe, discourse, elucidate, enucleate, exemplify, explain, explicate, express, illustrate, interpret, present, set forth, spell out, state, unfold |
| Main Entry: | gloss |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | define |
Synonyms: |
annotate, comment, construe, elucidate, explain, interpret, justify, translate |
Antonyms: |
misinform |