adj · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈɪn.tɹɪ.kət/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
/ˈɪn.tɹɪ.keɪt/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:IH1 N T R AH0 K AH0 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Having a great deal of fine detail or complexity.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The architecture of this clock is very intricate.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: fancy, convoluted
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Difficult to disentangle, puzzle apart, or resolve; enigmatic, obscure.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To become enmeshed or entangled.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To enmesh or entangle: to cause to intricate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective satellite
Meaning 5
having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
intricate lacework
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Middle English intricat(e) (“entangled, intricate”), from Latin intrīcātus, perfect passive participle of intricō, see -ate (adjective-forming suffix).
As for Etymology 1; from Latin intrīcātus, see -ate (verb-forming suffix).
Across languages
Translations
77 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
сложен
(složen)
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Bulgarian:
заплетен
(zapleten)
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Catalan:
intricat
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Chinese Mandarin:
複雜的 /复杂的
(fùzá de)
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Dutch:
ingewikkeld
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Dutch:
gecompliceerd
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Finnish:
monimutkainen
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Finnish:
konstikas
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Finnish:
mutkikas
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
French:
intriqué
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
French:
compliqué
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
French:
tortueux
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Galician:
intricado
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Georgian:
ჩახლართული
(čaxlartuli)
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
German:
aufwendig
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
German:
kompliziert
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
German:
ausgeklügelt
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
German:
raffiniert
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
German:
kunstvoll
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
German:
knifflig
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
German:
verzwickt
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
German:
vertrackt
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
German:
verwickelt
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
German:
filigran
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
German:
diffizil
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Greek:
μπερδεμένος
(berdeménos)
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Ancient Greek:
πολύπλοκος
(polúplokos)
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Hebrew:
מסובך
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Hebrew:
מורכב
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Hungarian:
tekervényes
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Hungarian:
bonyolult
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Hungarian:
szövevényes
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Hungarian:
komplikált
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Irish:
casta
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Irish:
achrannach
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Irish:
aimhréidh
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Irish:
cas
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Irish:
doréidh
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Irish:
eanglamtha
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Italian:
intricato
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Japanese:
複雑
(fukuzatsu)
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Korean:
복잡(複雜)하다
(bokjap-hada)
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Latin:
contortus
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Latin:
nōdōsus
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Macedonian:
заплеткан
(zapletkan)
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Manx:
cramp
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Māori:
whiwhi
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Māori:
takawhiwhiwhiwhi
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Māori:
takawhīwhiwhi
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Māori:
matatini
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Norwegian Bokmål:
intrikat
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Norwegian Nynorsk:
intrikat
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Plautdietsch:
derchjehäakjat
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Polish:
złożony
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Polish:
skomplikowany
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Polish:
zawiły
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Portuguese:
intrincado
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Romanian:
complicat
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Russian:
сло́жный
(slóžnyj)
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Russian:
запу́танный
(zapútannyj)
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Russian:
замыслова́тый
(zamyslovátyj)
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Scottish Gaelic:
eadar-fhighte
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Slovak:
zložitý
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Slovak:
komplikovaný
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Spanish:
intrincado
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Spanish:
intricado
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Swedish:
intrikat
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Swedish:
invecklad
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Tagalog:
saligutgot
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Tahitian:
fifi
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Tongan:
fihi
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Turkish:
ince işçilik
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Vietnamese:
phức tạp
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Welsh:
astrus
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Welsh:
cymhleth
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Zazaki:
cıtêfil
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
Zazaki:
cıtêfile
— having a great deal of fine detail or complexity
