intricate

C2+ Topic:Tools, Machines & Construction

US /ˈɪntrɪkət/ UK /ˈɪntrɪkət/ See IPA manual

adj

Meanings

1

adj
very complicated or detailed in structure or arrangement

The clock's intricate mechanism contained hundreds of tiny gears.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · very complicated or... complex complicated elaborate convoluted involved tangled labyrinthine

Opposites

simple plain straightforward

Word family

Forms intricately

Derived forms intricatelyintricacyintricateness

Related forms intrigue

Etymology

From Latin intricatus, past participle of intricare 'to entangle, perplex', from in- 'in' plus tricae 'trifles, hindrances, perplexities'.

intricare Latin tricae Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Tools, Machines & Construction Word Formation & Derivatives

# intricate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** ˈɪntrɪkət
**IPA (UK):** ˈɪntrɪkət

## Meanings
1. very complicated or detailed in structure or arrangement

## Examples
- The clock's intricate mechanism contained hundreds of tiny gears.

## Synonyms
- complex
- complicated
- elaborate
- convoluted
- involved
- tangled
- labyrinthine

## Antonyms
- simple
- plain
- straightforward

## Derived Forms
- intricately
- intricacy
- intricateness

## Related Forms
- intrigue

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: intricare
- Root: tricae

## Etymology
From Latin intricatus, past participle of intricare 'to entangle, perplex', from in- 'in' plus tricae 'trifles, hindrances, perplexities'.

## AI Etymology
Intricate comes from Latin intricatus, past participle of intricare 'to entangle, perplex', from in- 'in' plus tricae 'trifles, hindrances, perplexities'. The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As an adjective, it carries the sense "very complicated or detailed in structure or arrangement", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Latin intricare and Latin tricae. Derivative forms include intricately, intricacy, intricateness; related words include intrigue.

## Topics
- Tools, Machines & Construction
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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