Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Elude \E*lude"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Eluded}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Eluding}.] [L. eludere, elusum; e + ludere to play: cf. F.
   ['e]luder. See {Ludicrous}.]
   To avoid slyly, by artifice, stratagem, or dexterity; to
   escape from in a covert manner; to mock by an unexpected
   escape; to baffle; as, to elude an officer; to elude
   detection, inquiry, search, comprehension; to elude the force
   of an argument or a blow.

         Me gentle Delia beckons from the plain, Then, hid in
         shades, eludes he eager swain.           --Pope.

         The transition from fetichism to polytheism seems a
         gradual process of which the stages elude close
         definition.                              --Tylor.

   Syn: To evade; avoid; escape; shun; eschew; flee; mock;
        baffle; frustrate; foil.

Source : WordNet®

elude
     v 1: escape, either physically or mentally; "The thief eluded the
          police"; "This difficult idea seems to evade her"; "The
          event evades explanation" [syn: {evade}, {bilk}]
     2: be incomprehensible to; escape understanding by; "What you
        are seeing in him eludes me" [syn: {escape}]
     3: avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing
        (duties, questions, or issues); "He dodged the issue";
        "she skirted the problem"; "They tend to evade their
        responsibilities"; "he evaded the questions skillfully"
        [syn: {hedge}, {fudge}, {evade}, {put off}, {circumvent},
        {parry}, {skirt}, {dodge}, {duck}, {sidestep}]