Lewis & Short

2. explĭcātus, ūs, m. [explico], an unfolding, stretching apart.

  1. * I. Lit.: alterno crurum explicatu, Plin. 8, 42, 67, § 166.
  2. * II. Trop., of speech, an explication, exposition: (natura deorum) quam difficiles explicatus haberet, Cic. N. D. 3, 39, 93.