overelaborate

[ adjective oh-ver-i-lab-er-it; verb oh-ver-i-lab-uh-reyt ]
/ adjective ˈoʊ vər ɪˈlæb ər ɪt; verb ˌoʊ vər ɪˈlæb əˌreɪt /

adjective

excessively or fussily elaborate, ornate, detailed, etc.

verb (used with object), o·ver·e·lab·o·rat·ed, o·ver·e·lab·o·rat·ing.

to render or present with excessive or fussy detail: He so overelaborates his jokes that they lose their humor.

verb (used without object), o·ver·e·lab·o·rat·ed, o·ver·e·lab·o·rat·ing.

to add excessive details, as in writing or speaking: He overelaborates to an extent that his novels must be cut radically before being published.

Origin of overelaborate

OTHER WORDS FROM overelaborate

o·ver·e·lab·o·rate·ly, adverb o·ver·e·lab·o·ra·tion, o·ver·e·lab·o·rate·ness, noun

Example sentences from the Web for overelaborate

  • "I see," said I—for Mr. Brisher is apt to overelaborate his jokes.

  • It was a Cosway; but a Cosway broadened and without a hint of genteel namby-pamby or overelaborate finesse.

    Visionaries |James Huneker
  • We had had two meals, one of which was as totally unnecessary as the other was overelaborate.

    The Message |Alec John Dawson
  • It is a work unique, perhaps, in its design, but entirely unfeeling and preposterous in its overelaborate decorations.

British Dictionary definitions for overelaborate

overelaborate

adjective (ˌəʊvərɪˈlæbərɪt)

excessively ornate, detailed, or complex

verb (ˌəʊvərɪˈlæbəˌreɪt)

(tr) to detail or develop (an idea, plan, etc) excessively

Derived forms of overelaborate

overelaboration, noun