Here's a specific example from the book:
> "We were just trying to get away, to elude the Socs, and stay alive." (Chapter 1)
In this quote, Ponyboy uses "elude" to describe the Greasers' desire to avoid the Socs and stay safe. It highlights the constant fear and danger they face, as well as the feeling of being hunted.
Here are some other possible meanings of "elude" in the context of "The Outsiders":
* To evade understanding or explanation: This applies to the complexities of the characters' lives and their struggles to be understood.
* To slip away or disappear: This could relate to the transient nature of their lives, or the way their dreams and aspirations seem to constantly slip through their fingers.
Ultimately, the specific meaning of "elude" depends on the context in which it's used, but it always carries a sense of being out of reach, elusive, and perhaps even lost.