intricate

in·tri·cate

adjective \ˈin-tri-kət\

Definition of INTRICATE

1

: having many complexly interrelating parts or elements : complicated <intricate machinery> <an intricate plot>

2

: difficult to resolve or analyze

— in·tri·cate·ly adverb

— in·tri·cate·ness noun

Examples of INTRICATE

1. The movie has an intricate plot.
2. <an intricate machine that requires some training to use it properly>
3. Filigree is an ancient technique that creates an intricate, lace-like pattern through the combination of wire swirls and shapes. —Jeanne Rhodes-Moen, Step by Step Wire Jewelry, Fall 2007
4. Tsunami generation involves intricate interactions among earthquakes, landslides, and “sympathetic” vibrations between the quake and the ocean above it. —Robert Koenig, Science, 17 Aug. 2001
5. However, other random processes can be quite intricate; for example, the fluctuating prices of stocks are difficult to explain because there are so many variables and combinations of variables that are influencing the prices. —Lloyd Jaisingh, Statistics for the Utterly Confused, 2000

Origin of INTRICATE

Middle English, from Latin intricatus, past participle of intricare to entangle, from in- + tricae trifles, complications

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to INTRICATE

Synonyms

baroque, byzantine, complicate, complicated, convoluted, daedal, elaborate, complex, involute, involved, knotty, labyrinthian, labyrinthine, sophisticated, tangled

Antonyms

noncomplex, noncomplicated, plain, simple, uncomplicated

Related Words

overcomplex, overcomplicated; composite, compound, heterogeneous, mixed, multibranched, multifaceted, multifarious, multipart, varied; challenging, difficult, tough; impenetrable, incomprehensible, inexplicable, Kafkaesque, unfathomable, unintelligible

Near Antonyms

oversimplified, simplified, simplistic; homogeneous, uniform, unvaried

See Synonym Discussion at complex