expound

/ɪkˈspaʊnd/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪkˈspaʊnd/ (ame, ipa) · /ik-ˈspau̇nd/ (ame, mw)

expound — verb

  • expoundpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • expoundshe / she / it
  • expoundedpast simple
  • expounding-ing form

1. to talk or write about a theory, idea, or belief at length, walking through its

1.動詞及物 / 不及物C1
釋義

to talk or write about a theory, idea, or belief at length, walking through its parts in an authoritative or scholarly manner so listeners or readers grasp the whole.

例句

Professor Tunde spent the entire lecture expounding his theory on climate migration patterns.

expound + noun (the theory itself as direct object)

At the dinner table, Joaquín loved to expound on the history of Andean weaving traditions.

expound on + noun (introduce the topic with on/upon)

同義詞
  • elaborate

    'elaborate (on)' is slightly less formal and stresses adding more detail; 'expound' carries a sense of authority or teaching.

  • explicate

    more academic and narrower — usually for analyzing a written text; 'expound' covers oral and written explanation of any idea.

  • discourse

    as a verb, 'discourse on' is similarly formal but emphasises the act of speaking at length; 'expound' emphasises making the content clear.

文法句型

expound + noun

expound on/upon + noun

用法筆記

Object is typically a complex idea, theory, belief, or body of teaching — never a simple fact. Subject is usually someone with authority or expertise on the topic. The intransitive 'expound on/upon X' is the most common pattern in modern English.

常見錯誤

❌Sayaka expounded the weather forecast to her son.
✅Sayaka explained the weather forecast to her son.
💡'expound' needs a substantial idea or theory as its object, not a simple fact.
❌The teacher expounded about democracy for an hour.
✅The teacher expounded on democracy for an hour.
💡the intransitive form takes 'on' or 'upon', not 'about'.