intricate

UK: /ˈɪntrɪkət/ US: /ˈɪntrɪkɪt/ ,(in′tri kit)

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

in•tri•cate /ˈɪntrɪkɪt/   adj. 

1. having many interconnected or interrelated parts:
   an intricate maze.
2. complex;
   complicated:
   an intricate political issue.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•tri•cate  (in′tri kit), adj. 

1. having many interrelated parts or facets;
   entangled or involved:
   an intricate maze.
2. complex;
   complicated;
   hard to understand, work, or make:
   an intricate machine.

• Latin intrīcātus, past participle of intrīcāre to entangle, equivalent. to in- in-² + trīc(ae) perplexities + -ātus -ate¹
• late Middle English 1375–1425

in′tri•cate•ly, adv. 
in′tri•cate•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. knotty, tangled, labyrinthine.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

intricate / ˈɪntrɪkɪt/ adjective

1. difficult to understand; obscure; complex; puzzling
2. entangled or involved: intricate patterns

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin intrīcāre to entangle, perplex, from in-² + trīcae trifles, perplexities

ˈintricacy, ˈintricateness noun

ˈintricately adverb