expose

Pronunciation key ( ik-spōz′ )

ex•pose

v.t.. [EXPOSED (-spōzd′), EXPOSING, EXPOSES]

[ME. exposen < OFr. exposer; prob. < L. expositus pp. of exponere see EXPOUND but associated in OFr. with poser < L. pausare; see POSE].

1. • To remove shelter or protection; lay open (for danger, ridicule, attack) to lay open or leave vulnerable and unprotected. To abandon, to put out into the elements, without food or shelter.
   • To make accessible or subject to an influence or action.
2. To lay something out in an unprotected place; abandon; such as Some schools unwantingly expose children to crime.
3. To make visible; disclose; reveal; exhibit; display.
4. • To unveil fraud or make a crime known.
   • To make one's illegal activities known.
5. Photography. To subject sensitized film or plates to the action of light or actinic rays.

Syn. Show.

—ex•pos′er n.

References and Further Reading

Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language (College Edition) ©1955

The American Heritage Dictionary, Second College Edition ©1985

Further Reading

exposé

exposition

expositive

expositor

expository