exposition

Everyday

1. A clear and full explanation of an idea or a subject. tree →
2. (stories) The beginning part of a story that introduces the characters, the setting and the background. tree →
3. A big public show or fair where things are displayed, also called an expo. tree →
4. (music) The first part of a piece where the main tunes are played. tree →

In the lessons

In English lessons the exposition is the first stage of a story plan (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution). In church life a preacher may give an exposition of a Bible passage, meaning an explanation. «Expo» is a big show. Phrases: story exposition, a clear exposition of, world exposition.

Examples

• The exposition of the story tells us that the girl lives on a farm. tree →
• Our teacher gave a clear exposition of how volcanoes work. tree →
• The minister's exposition of the psalm helped us understand it. tree →
• Thousands of people visited the science exposition. tree →
• In the exposition we meet the hero and learn about his problem. tree →
• The book starts with a long exposition before anything exciting happens. tree →

Note

Related verb: expound (to explain in detail). The short form «expo» is used for fairs and shows. Not the same as «exposure» or «exhibition», though an exhibition and an exposition can both mean a public show.