- to lay open to danger, attack, harm, etc.: to expose soldiers to gunfire; to expose one's character to attack.
- to lay open to something specified: to expose oneself to the influence of bad companions.
- to uncover or bare to the air, cold, etc.: to expose one's head to the rain.
- to present to view; exhibit; display: The storekeeper exposed his wares.
- to make known, disclose, or reveal (intentions, secrets, etc.).
- to reveal or unmask (a crime, fraud, impostor, etc.): to expose a swindler.
- to hold up to public reprehension or ridicule (fault, folly, a foolish act or person, etc.).
- to desert in an unsheltered or open place; abandon, as a child.
- to subject, as to the action of something: to expose a photographic plate to light.
- expose oneself, to exhibit one's body, especially one's genitals, publicly in an immodest or exhibitionistic manner.
Origin of expose
SynonymsSee more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
- to display for viewing; exhibit
- to bring to public notice; disclose; revealto expose the facts
- to divulge the identity of; unmask
- (foll by to) to make subject or susceptible (to attack, criticism, etc)
- to abandon (a child, animal, etc) in the open to die
- (foll by to) to introduce (to) or acquaint (with)he was exposed to the classics at an early age
- photog to subject (a photographic film or plate) to light, X-rays, or some other type of actinic radiation
- RC Church to exhibit (the consecrated Eucharistic Host or a relic) for public veneration
- expose oneself to display one's sexual organs in public
- the act or an instance of bringing a scandal, crime, etc, to public notice
- an article, book, or statement that discloses a scandal, crime, etc
Word Origin and History for self-exposing
early 15c., "to leave without shelter or defense," from Middle French exposer "lay open, set forth" (13c.), from Latin exponere "set forth" (see expound), altered by confusion with poser "to place, lay down" (see pose (v.1)). Meaning "to exhibit openly" is from 1620s; that of "to unmask" is from 1690s. Photographic sense is from 1839. Related: Exposed; exposes; exposing.
also exposé, "display of discreditable information," 1803, initially as a French word; past participle of French exposer (see expose (v.)). Earliest use was in reference to Napoleon.