labyrinth

noun

lab·​y·​rinth ˈla-bə-ˌrin(t)th 

-rən(t)th

1

a

: a place constructed of or full of intricate passageways and blind alleys

a complex labyrinth of tunnels and chambers

b

: a maze (as in a garden) formed by paths separated by high hedges

2

: something extremely complex or tortuous (see tortuous sense 1) in structure, arrangement, or character : intricacy, perplexity

a labyrinth of swamps and channels

guided them through the labyrinths of city life

—Paul Blanshard

3

: a tortuous anatomical structure

especially : the internal ear or its bony or membranous part

Did you know?

Is there a difference between maze and labyrinth?

Is there a difference between the words maze and labyrinth? Not so much; both words are used in reference to confusing networks of passages or channels, or for a thing that is complicated or confusingly elaborate. However, in origin the two words are quite different. Maze is presumed to come from an unrecorded Old English word masian (“to confuse”), whereas labyrinth has a more classical pedigree.

Ancient Greek legends tell of King Minos of Crete, who had the inventor Daedalus create a labyrinth beneath his palace in which was housed the Minotaur, a fearsome monster with the head of a bull and body of a man. The Minotaur was said to have been slain by the Greek hero Theseus, who then managed to find his way out of the labyrinth with the aid of a ball of thread that had been given to him by Ariadne, the daughter of Minos.

Synonyms

• maze
• rabbit warren
• warren

Examples of labyrinth in a Sentence

a complex labyrinth of tunnels and chambers

The cockpit was a labyrinth of instruments and controls.

a labyrinth of social customs and rules

Recent Examples on the Web

Hamas leaders have boasted that the labyrinth of tunnels is hundreds of miles long and full of traps. —Raf Sanchez, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2023

The decline of Lake Powell has revealed Glen Canyon, the gorgeous red-rock labyrinth that the reservoir drowned in the 1960s. —WIRED, 4 Nov. 2023

The project is not for aquaculture, an industry that has increased salinity problems amid the labyrinth of ponds and channels of Mongla, but so residents can collect enough rainwater for household cleaning. —Melanie Stetson Freeman, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Nov. 2023

The latter ranges from a prop hunt to a race, as well as maneuvering a labyrinth and exploring a host of rooms inspired by different destinations. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 3 Nov. 2023

It's also believed that the more than 200 hostages, who were kidnapped during the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks, are within the labyrinth of tunnels. —Mike Brest, Washington Examiner, 2 Nov. 2023

The child ventures into a world of magical characters in an ancient labyrinth garden, where she is put to the ultimate test through a set of trials. —Allison Argueta-Claros, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2023

Officials are also under pressure to save as many of the 220 Israeli and foreign hostages held in Hamas’ underground labyrinth of tunnels in Gaza. —Anna Schecter, NBC News, 25 Oct. 2023

The release of the two women takes the total number of captives freed to four, but more than 200 hostages are believed to be trapped in Gaza, some within the labyrinth of Hamas tunnels dug beneath the coastal strip. —Heather Chen, CNN, 24 Oct. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English laborintus, from Latin labyrinthus, from Greek labyrinthos

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing labyrinth

• membranous labyrinth

• membranous labyrinth

Kids Definition

labyrinth

noun

lab·​y·​rinth ˈlab-ə-ˌrin(t)th 

1

: a place full of passageways and blind alleys so arranged as to make it difficult to find one's way around : maze

2

: something extremely complicated or twisting

the cockpit was a labyrinth of instruments and controls

3

: the internal ear or its bony or membranous part

labyrinthine

ˌlab-ə-ˈrin(t)-thən

adjective

Medical Definition

labyrinth

noun

lab·​y·​rinth ˈlab-ə-ˌrin(t)th, -rən(t)th 

: a tortuous anatomical structure

especially : the inner ear or its bony or membranous part see bony labyrinth, membranous labyrinth