First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
exposition
noun ex·po·si·tion \ˌek-spə-ˈzi-shən\
: the act of explaining something : clear explanation
: a public show or exhibition
Full Definition of EXPOSITION
1
: a setting forth of the meaning or purpose (as of a writing)
2
a : discourse or an example of it designed to convey information or explain what is difficult to understand b (1) : the first part of a musical composition in sonata form in which the thematic material of the movement is presented (2) : the opening section of a fugue
3
: a public exhibition or show
— ex·po·si·tion·al \-ˈzish-nəl, -ˈzi-shə-nəl\ adjective
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Examples of EXPOSITION
- This is not an easy book, and the reader may find the layers of detail challenging. There are long expositions of the knotty tangles of monarchical lineage, and the necessary chronicle of historical events occasionally consumes the novel's narrative drive. —Lucy Lethbridge, Commonweal, 23 Oct. 2009
- He is masterly in absorbing information and masterful in organizing it—skeptical of fashion, clear in exposition, fluent in communication, unremittingly scholarly. —Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, New York Times Book Review, 11 June 2000
- Although they were invited to use an early X ray machine on display at the exposition, they turned down the offer, and they never found the bullet. —T. Burton Smith, American Heritage, September 1992
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Origin of EXPOSITION
(see exposit)
Other Performing Arts Terms
Rhymes with EXPOSITION
acoustician, acquisition, admonition, aesthetician, air-condition, ammunition, apparition, apposition, coalition, co-edition, competition, composition, cosmetician, decommission, decondition, definition, demolition, deposition, dietitian, disposition, disquisition, electrician, erudition, exhibition, expedition, extradition, first edition, imposition, in addition, inanition, in commission, inhibition, inquisition, intermission, intromission, intuition, linguistician, logistician, malnutrition, malposition, manumission, mathematician, mechanician, micturition, obstetrician, on commission, opposition, Ordovician, parturition, politician, precognition, precondition, premonition, preposition, proposition, recognition, recondition, repetition, requisition, rescue mission, rhetorician, self-ignition, statistician, submunition, superstition, supposition, text edition, trade edition, transposition
EXPOSITION Defined for Kids
exposition
noun ex·po·si·tion \ˌek-spə-ˈzi-shən\
Definition of EXPOSITION for Kids
1
: an explanation of something
2
: a public exhibition
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