intricate

[ in-tri-kit ]
See synonyms for: intricateintricateness on Thesaurus.com

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 of intricate

1
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin intrīcātus “entangled,” past participle of intrīcāre “to entangle,” from in- in-2 + trīc(ae) “perplexities” + -āre, infinitive verb suffix

Other words for intricate

Other words from intricate

  • in·tri·cate·ly, adverb
  • in·tri·cate·ness, noun
  • un·in·tri·cate, adjective
  • un·in·tri·cate·ly, adverb
  • un·in·tri·cate·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use intricate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for intricate

intricate

/ (ˈɪntrɪkɪt) /


adjective
  1. difficult to understand; obscure; complex; puzzling

  2. entangled or involved: intricate patterns

Origin of intricate

1
C15: from Latin intrīcāre to entangle, perplex, from in- ² + trīcae trifles, perplexities

Derived forms of intricate

  • intricacy or intricateness, noun
  • intricately, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012