Intricate Meaning
/ˈɪn.tɹɪ.kət/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjHaving a great deal of fine detail or complexity.
adjDifficult to disentangle, puzzle apart, or resolve; enigmatic, obscure.
Sentence Examples
The statesman barely coped with the intricate issue.
I can see some intricate patterns in the picture.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The watchmaker repaired the ____ clock mechanism with hundreds of tiny gears.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The jeweler spent many hours working on the ____ design of the gold necklace for the queen.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English intricat(e) (“entangled, intricate”), from Latin intrīcātus, perfect passive participle of intricō, see -ate (adjective-forming suffix).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"As a matter of fact its narrow ornate façade presented not a single quiet space that the eyes might rest on after a tiring attempt to follow and codify the arabesques, foliations, and intricate vermiculations of what some disrespectfully dubbed as “near-aissance.”"
— 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter V, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
"It is next argued that the discretion must be exercised in a reasonable manner and that the question whether a will was in fact executed or not would seldom be an intricate question and was not so in this case."
— 1911, Great Britain, Privy Council, Judicial Committee, Madras (India: Presidency), High Court of Judicature, The Madras Weekly Notes, Journal, page 144:
"From this point of vantage, we were able to gain an impression of the massive outlines of the main structure, and its intricate maze of girders."
— 1950 March, H. A. Vallance, “On Foot Across the Forth Bridge”, in Railway Magazine, page 149:
"The Ways of Heav’n are dark and intricate,
Puzzled in Mazes, and perplext with Errors;
Our Underſtanding traces ’em in vain,
Loſt and bewilder’d in the fruitleſs Search;
Nor ſees with how much Art the Windings run,
Nor where the regular Confuſion ends."
— 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 2:
"His style of writing […] was […]fit to convey the most intricate business to the understanding […]with the utmost clearness."
— 1715 May 14 (Gregorian calendar), Joseph Addison, “The Free-holder: No. 39. Tuesday, May 4. [1715.]”, in The Works of the Right Honourable Joseph Addison, Esq; […], volume IV, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], published 1721, →OCLC:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The watchmaker repaired the ____ clock mechanism with hundreds of tiny gears.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The jeweler spent many hours working on the ____ design of the gold necklace for the queen.