To make clear or plain; to explain thoroughly. The professor asked the students to explicate the main themes of the novel in their essays.
To develop or analyze a theory or idea in detail. The scientist was able to explicate the complex process in a way that was understandable to the general public.
To interpret a literary or philosophical text through close analysis; to elucidate its meaning. In his lecture, the scholar explicated the sonnet's imagery and metaphors in meticulous detail.