fancy

Compared meaning: carefully complex or showy, not plain (adjective).

比较义项：精心细致、复杂考究或华丽而不简单朴素的（形容词）。

• elaborate

  Focuses on thoroughness and complexity of detail or planning, often in explanations, plans, or designs; fairly formal and can sound admiring or slightly critical of over-complication.

  强调细节或计划的周密与复杂，多用于说明、计划、设计等场合；语气较正式，可以表示赞赏，也可能略带“过于繁复”的意味。

  She gave an elaborate explanation of her research project.

  她对自己的研究项目做了详尽的说明。

• fancy 本词

  Focuses on a showy, decorative, or high-class style, especially for clothes, food, or events; informal and everyday, sometimes hinting the thing is overly dressy or pretentious.

  强调华丽、讲究排场或高档的风格，多用于衣着、饮食或场合；用语口语化，有时暗示对象过于讲究或有点装派头。

  She wore a fancy dress to the wedding last night.

  她昨晚穿了一条华丽的裙子去参加婚礼。

Both mean not plain or simple, but the tone differs. Elaborate stresses careful design and complex detail, used for plans, explanations, or patterns; fairly formal, sometimes suggesting over-complication. Fancy stresses a showy, decorative, high-class style, especially for clothes, food, or events; informal, sometimes pretentious.

这两个词在“精心复杂、不简单朴素”这一义项上意思相近，但语气和用法不同：elaborate 强调用心设计、细节繁复，可用于说明、计划、图案等，语气中性偏正式；fancy 强调装饰性强、讲究排场或高档，多用于衣着、餐饮、场合，语气较口语，有时带“过于花哨”的轻微贬义。这里只比较这一层意思，不涉及两词的其他用法。