intricate

comparative more intricate · superlative most intricate

1. Having a great deal of fine detail or complexity.

   The architecture of this clock is very intricate.

   3 more examples

   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

   Synonyms: fancy, convoluted

2. archaicDifficult to disentangle, puzzle apart, or resolve; enigmatic, obscure.

   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

   1 more example

   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

present singular third person intricates · participle present intricating · participle past intricated · past intricated

1. intransitiveTo become enmeshed or entangled.

   […] washes off easily, without sticking or intricating into the wound.

   1864 October 18, J.E. Freund, “How to Avoid the Use of Lint”, letter to the editor, in The New York Times (1864 October 23)

2. transitiveTo enmesh or entangle: to cause to intricate.

   But the British and French won't hear of that; they want to get their troops extricated and our ground troops intricated.

   1994 December 12, William Safire, “Avoid Dunkirk II” (essay), in The New York Times