Adumbrate
/ˈædəmˌbreɪt/
verbC2
Definition
Adumbrate means to describe or explain something in a way that is not very detailed but gives a general idea or outline. It can also mean to suggest or hint at something without saying it clearly. The word is often used in formal or academic language.
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See It in Action
To give a rough outline or summary of something
- •The professor adumbrated the main ideas of the theory before the detailed lecture.
- •The report adumbrates the challenges facing the company.
- •The author adumbrated the plot in the introduction.
To suggest or hint at something without saying it directly
- •His speech adumbrated a possible change in policy.
- •The painting adumbrates feelings of sadness without showing them clearly.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'adumbrate' like 'show,' but only a shadow or outline, not the full clear picture.
- ✓Picture a shadow on a wall that shows the shape of an object but not the details.
- ✓It's the feeling when someone tells you the main idea but leaves out many details, making you curious.
- ✓Sounds like 'ADD-um-brate' → imagine adding a light shadow over a drawing to show just the shape.
- ✓Think of a movie trailer that adumbrates the story by giving small hints but not the whole plot.
- ✓NOT like 'explain' (which gives full details), adumbrate is more like giving a sketch or hint.
- ✓NOT like 'describe' fully, adumbrate is more about suggestion and outline than full explanation.
Try Other Words
- •Outline: to give the main points without details (Use when you want to explain the structure clearly but briefly)
- •Hint: to suggest something without saying it directly (Use when you want to be less direct or more subtle)
- •Sketch: to draw or describe roughly (Use when talking about drawing or giving a rough description)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: 'ad-' (toward) + 'umbra' (shadow) + '-ate' (verb ending) → literally 'to cast a shadow toward'
- •Etymology: From Latin 'adumbratus,' meaning to shadow or outline
- •Historical development: Originally meant to cast a shadow or darken; later used metaphorically to mean giving a faint idea or outline
- •Modern usage: Used mainly in formal or literary contexts to mean suggesting or outlining something in a vague way
Reflect & Connect
•When might it be useful to adumbrate an idea rather than fully explain it?
•How does adumbrating information affect how people understand or imagine something?
Fill in the blanks
1.The teacher adumbrated the topic ___ before going into full detail.
2.His speech adumbrated ___ changes, but he did not say them clearly.
3.Unlike a full explanation, adumbrate only gives a ___ or rough idea.
4.The novel’s introduction adumbrates the story ___ without giving spoilers.
5.When you adumbrate, you often leave many ___ for the listener to think about.
6.The artist adumbrated the figure with light ___ rather than full color.
7.Adumbrate is different from explain because it does not provide ___ details.