convoluted

UK: /ˈkɒnvəluːtɪd/ US: /ˈkɑnvəˌlutɪd/ ,(kon′və lo̅o̅′tid)

From the verb convolute: (⇒ conjugate)

convoluted is: ⓘ

v past

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•vo•lut•ed /ˈkɑnvəˌlutɪd/   adj. 

1. of or marked by convolutions:
   a convoluted pattern of leaves and flowers.
2. very involved;
   difficult to understand:
   convoluted answers to simple questions.

con•vo•lut•ed•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•vo•lut•ed  (kon′və lo̅o̅′tid), adj. 

1. twisted;
   coiled.
2. complicated;
   intricately involved:
   a convoluted way of describing a simple device.

• convolute + -ed² 1805–15

con′vo•lut′ed•ly, adj. 
con′vo•lut′ed•ness, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

convoluted / ˌkɒnvəˈluːtɪd/ adjective

1. (esp of meaning, style, etc) difficult to comprehend; involved
2. wound together; coiled

ˈconvoˌlutedly adverb

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•vo•lute  (kon′və lo̅o̅t′), v., -lut•ed, -lut•ing, adj. 
v.t., v.i. 

1. to coil up;
   form into a twisted shape.

adj. 

2. rolled up together or with one part over another.
3. Botany coiled up longitudinally so that one margin is within the coil and the other without, as the petals of cotton.

• Latin convolūtus rolled up, equivalent. to convolū- (stem of convolvere to convolve) + -tus past participle suffix
• 1690–1700

con′vo•lute′ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

convolute verb / ˌkɒnvəˈluːt/(transitive)

1. to form into a twisted, coiled, or rolled shape

adjective / ˈkɒnvəˌluːt/

1. rolled longitudinally upon itself: a convolute petal
2. another word for convoluted2

Etymology: 18th Century: from Latin convolūtus rolled up, from convolvere to roll together, from volvere to turn