allude definition - Dictionary

Dictionary

al·lude [ ə ld ] (past and past participle al·lud·ed, present participle al·lud·ing, 3rd person present singular al·ludes)

intransitive verb

Definition:

mention indirectly: to refer to something or somebody indirectly, without giving a precise name or explicit identification

I presume you are alluding to the alleged financial discrepancy.

[Mid-16th century. < Latin alludere "play to" < ludere< ludus "play"]

Spelling Note


	allude or elude? Do not confuse the spelling of allude and elude, which sound similar. Allude is usually followed by to, as in alluding to the disappearance of her husband. Elude means "escape from," "avoid," or "be beyond": He eluded his pursuers. Her name eludes me.

Word Usage


	allude or refer? The sentence She alluded to her husband by name is a self-contradiction, because allude means "to mention indirectly." When the reference is direct, the word to use is refer. So if she mentioned "the man at home looking after the children," she was alluding to her husband, whereas if she mentioned "George" or "my husband" directly, she was referring to him: She referred to her husband frequently.