v. - a make clear or intelligible (also absol.: let me explain). B make known in detail.

- (foll. By that) say by way of explanation.

- account for (one's conduct etc.). explain away minimize the significance of by explanation. Explain oneself 1 make one's meaning clear.

- give an account of one's motives or conduct. [latin explano from planus flat]

v. (-ding) 1 a expand suddenly with a loud noise owing to a release of internal energy. B cause (a bomb etc.) To explode.

- give vent suddenly to emotion, esp. Anger.

- (of a population etc.) Increase suddenly or rapidly.

- show (a theory etc.) To be false or baseless.

- (as exploded adj.) (of a drawing etc.) Showing the components of a mechanism somewhat separated but in the normal relative positions. [latin explodo -plos- hiss off the stage]

—n. Daring feat. —v. - make use of (a resource etc.).

- usu. Derog. Utilize or take advantage of (esp. A person) for one's own ends. exploitation n. Exploitative adj. Exploiter n. [latin: related to *explicate]

v. (-ring) 1 travel through (a country etc.) To learn about it.

- inquire into.

- surgery examine (a part of the body) in detail. exploration n. Exploratory adj. Explorer n. [latin exploro search out]

v. - set out in detail.

- explain or interpret. [latin pono posit- place]

—v. - represent or make known in words or by gestures, conduct, etc.

- refl. Communicate what one thinks, feels, or means.

- esp. Math. Represent by symbols.

- squeeze out (liquid or air).

- send by express service. —adj. - operating at high speed.

- also definitely stated.

- delivered by a specially fast service. —adv. - at high speed.

- by express messenger or train. —n. - express train etc.

- us service for the rapid transport of parcels etc. expressible adj. Expressly adv. (in sense 2 of adj.). [latin exprimo -press- squeeze out]

v. (-ging) erase, remove (objectionable matter) from a book etc. [latin expungo prick out (for deletion)]

adj. - that has died out.

- a no longer burning. B (of a volcano) that no longer erupts.

- obsolete. [latin ex(s)tinguo -stinct- quench]

—v. - remove or take out, esp. By effort or force.

- obtain (money, an admission, etc.) Against a person's will.

- obtain (a natural resource) from the earth.

- select or reproduce for quotation or performance.

- obtain (juice etc.) By pressure, distillation, etc.

- derive (pleasure etc.).

- find (the root of a number). —n. - short passage from a book etc.

- preparation containing a concentrated constituent of a substance (malt extract). [latin traho tract- draw]

unction n. Last rites in the roman catholic and orthodox churches.

- —adj. - of a high, or the highest, degree (extreme danger).

- severe (extreme measures).

- outermost.

- on the far left or right of a political party.

- utmost; last. —n. - (often in pl.) Either of two things as remote or as different as possible.

- thing at either end.

- highest degree.

- math. First or last term of a ratio or series. go to extremes take an extreme course of action. In the extreme to an extreme degree. extremely adv. [french from latin]