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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
Language Translation for : intricate
Spanish: intrincado, complejo, German: knifflig, Japanese: 複雑な
in·tri·cate     (ĭn'trĭ-kĭt)  Pronunciation Key 
adj.  
  1. Having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate. See Synonyms at elaborate.
  2. 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.

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).

intricate

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

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.

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