intricate definition | Dictionary.com

Synonyms

complicated, fancy, convoluted, elaborate, involved, knotty, labyrinthine, abstruse, arduous, complex, difficult, hard

More Synonyms»

Nearby Entries

intricate - 6 dictionary results

in⋅tri⋅cate

[in-tri-kit]

–adjective

1.	having many interrelated parts or facets; entangled or involved: an intricate maze.

2.	complex; complicated; hard to understand, work, or make: an intricate machine.

Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < L intrīcātus, ptp. of intrīcāre to entangle, equiv. to in- in- ² + trīc(ae) perplexities + -ātus -ate ¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Cite This Source

Language Translation for : intricate

Spanish:

intrincado, complejo,

German:

knifflig,

Japanese:

複雑な

View 30 other languages »

in·tri·cate (ĭn'trĭ-kĭt) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate. See Synonyms at elaborate.
Solvable or comprehensible only with painstaking effort. See Synonyms at complex.

[Middle English from Latin intrīcātus, past participle of intrīcāre, to entangle, perplex : in-, in; see in-² + trīcae, perplexities, wiles.]

in'tri·cate·ly adv., in'tri·cate·ness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

intricate

c.1470, from L. intricatus "entangled," pp. of intricare "to entangle, perplex, embarrass," from in- "in" + tricæ (pl.) "perplexities, hindrances, toys, tricks," of uncertain origin (cf. extricate).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source

intricate
adjective
having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate; "intricate lacework"

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Cite This Source

Intricate

Com"plex\, a. [L. complexus, p. p. of complecti to entwine around, comprise; com- + plectere to twist, akin to plicare to fold. See Plait, n.]

1. Composed of two or more parts; composite; not simple; as, a complex being; a complex idea.

Ideas thus made up of several simple ones put together, I call complex; such as beauty, gratitude, a man, an army, the universe. --Locke.

2. Involving many parts; complicated; intricate.

When the actual motions of the heavens are calculated in the best possible way, the process is difficult and complex. --Whewell.

Complex fraction. See Fraction.

Complex number (Math.), in the theory of numbers, an expression of the form a + b[root]-1, when a and b are ordinary integers.

Syn: See Intricate.

Intricate

Ex"tri*cate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Extricated; p. pr. & vb. n. Extricating.] [L. extricatus, p. p. of extricare to extricate; ex out + tricae trifles, impediments, perplexities. Cf. Intricate.]

1. To free, as from difficulties or perplexities; to disentangle; to disembarrass; as, to extricate a person from debt, peril, etc.

We had now extricated ourselves from the various labyrinths and defiles. --Eustance.

2. To cause to be emitted or evolved; as, to extricate heat or moisture.

Syn: To disentangle; disembarrass; disengage; relieve; evolve; set free; liberate.

Search another word or see intricate on Thesaurus | Reference | Translate

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Link to Us · Report Ad · Contact Us

Get your FREE Subscription to Dictionary.com Word of the Day