convoluted

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌkɑnvəˈlutəd/ UK /ˌkɒnvəˈl(j)uːtɪd/ See IPA manual

Freq #40286

Meanings

1

adj
Extremely complicated and difficult to follow.

He gave a convoluted explanation that no one could understand.
2

adj
Twisted or folded in many overlapping coils.

The shell had a convoluted, spiral surface.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · extremely complicated and... complex complicated intricate involved knotty

2 adj · twisted or folded in many... convolute tortuous

Word family

Derived forms convolutedlyconvolutednesssubconvolutedunconvoluted

Related forms convolute convolutionconvolve

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

convoluted reasoning
thinking or argument that follows a complex and difficult-to-follow path

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Convoluted, recorded from the late 18th century, comes from Latin convolvere, meaning “to roll together” or “intertwine.” Convolvere is built on volvere, “to turn, roll, or tumble.”

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Latin con- Proto-Indo-European *welH-der. Proto-Italic *wolwō Latin volvō Latin convolvō Latin convolūtusbor. English convolute English -d English convoluted From convolute + -d.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# convoluted

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌkɑnvəˈlutəd/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌkɒnvəˈl(j)uːtɪd/
**Frequency rank:** 40286

## Meanings
1. Extremely complicated and difficult to follow.
2. Twisted or folded in many overlapping coils.

## Examples
- He gave a convoluted explanation that no one could understand.
- The shell had a convoluted, spiral surface.

## Derived Forms
- convolutedly
- convolutedness
- subconvoluted
- unconvoluted

## Related Forms
- convolute
- convolution
- convolve

## Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Latin con- Proto-Indo-European *welH-der. Proto-Italic *wolwō Latin volvō Latin convolvō Latin convolūtusbor. English convolute English -d English convoluted From convolute + -d.

## AI Etymology
Convoluted is from convolute + -d. The older chain passes through Proto-Indo-European *ḱe > Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm > Proto-Italic *kom > Proto-Italic *kom- > Latin con- > Proto-Indo-European *welH- > Proto-Italic *wolwō > Latin volvō. In present-day use, it can mean extremely complicated and difficult to follow, or twisted or folded in many overlapping coils. Derived formations include convolutedly, convolutedness, subconvoluted, and unconvoluted.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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