Learn English – Looking for a word which means: Taking something simple and making it into something complex

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Let's say I have a very simple object, like a LEGO car (my cars were always pretty basic) and I remake it into a very complex object, like the Batmobile, what would be an appropriate term for this?

I thought of transform, but that seems like it can go two ways and I'm specifically looking for the simple to complex route.

What I by mean by complex is not necessarily overly complex for no good reason. I actually need the functionality of the much improved product.

Best Answer

Overcomplicate and convolute are fine but they have slight negative connotations. If you're looking for more neutral words, from Oxford dictionary, and don't want to use to complexify (which is exactly the word that fits your definition) for some reason :

To sophisticate

(transitive) to make more complex or refined

or also

To refine

To make or become free from coarse characteristics;

Make or become elegant or polished (intransitive; often followed by on or upon)

to improve (upon) by making subtle or fine distinctions

Other synonyms at these entries could work depending on the context, such as to fine-tune (a concept), to complexify, to improve, to perfect, to polish, to modernize, to upgrade...

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