# intricate

/ˈɪntɹəkət/ (US) · /ˈɪntɹɪkət/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/intricate
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. highly detailed

adjective · CEFR B2

having many small, complicated parts or details that work together.

For teachers: characterized by a high degree of complexity and fine detail; often used to describe physical patterns or abstract systems.

- The watch has an intricate design with hundreds of tiny moving parts.
- The novelist spent years developing an intricate plot where every minor character eventually played a crucial role in the resolution.

### 2. difficult to resolve

adjective · CEFR C1 · Archaic · Literary

very difficult to understand or solve because it is so complicated.

For teachers: difficult to disentangle, resolve, or interpret due to inherent obscurity or complexity.

- The legal case became so intricate that it took years to reach a final decision.
- The diplomat found himself caught in an intricate web of old rivalries and secret agreements that predated the current conflict.

## Examples

- The lace dress has an intricate pattern.
- The watchmaker spent hours assembling the intricate gears inside the pocket watch.
- The novel's intricate plot weaves together three different timelines, requiring the reader to pay close attention to subtle clues.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.