intimate

[ in-tuh-mit ]

/ ˈɪn tə mɪt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR intimate ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

associated in close personal relations: an intimate friend.

characterized by or involving warm friendship or a personally close or familiar association or feeling: an intimate greeting.

very private; closely personal: one's intimate affairs.

characterized by or suggesting an atmosphere conducive to privacy or intimacy; warmly cozy: an intimate little café where we can relax and talk.

(of an association, knowledge, understanding, etc.) arising from close personal connection or familiar experience.

engaged in or characterized by sexual relations: too young to handle an intimate relationship.

(of women's clothing) worn next to the skin, under street or outer garments: a store that sells intimate apparel.

detailed; deep: a more intimate analysis.

showing a close union or combination of particles or elements: an intimate mixture.

inmost; deep within.

of, relating to, or characteristic of the inmost or essential nature; intrinsic: the intimate structure of an organism.

of, relating to, or existing in the inmost depths of the mind: intimate beliefs.

noun

an intimate friend or associate, especially a confidant.

Origin of intimate

1600–10; < Latin intim(us) a close friend (noun use of the adj.; see intima) + -ate¹

SYNONYMS FOR intimate

1 dear. See familiar.

3 privy, secret.

8 exacting, thorough.

13 crony.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR intimate ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM intimate

in·ti·mate·ly, adverb in·ti·mate·ness, noun

Words nearby intimate

inthrone, inti, intifada, intima, intimacy, intimate, intimate borrowing, intimation, intimations of immortality, intime, intimidate

Definition for intimate (2 of 2)

intimate ²

[ in-tuh-meyt ]

/ ˈɪn təˌmeɪt /

verb (used with object), in·ti·mat·ed, in·ti·mat·ing.

to indicate or make known indirectly; hint; imply; suggest.

Archaic. to make known; announce.

Origin of intimate

1530–40; < Late Latin intimātus, past participle of intimāre to impress (upon), make known, equivalent to intim(us) inmost (see intima) + -ātus -ate¹

SYNONYMS FOR intimate

1 See hint.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR intimate ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM intimate

in·ti·mat·er, noun in·ti·ma·tion, noun pre·in·ti·ma·tion, noun qua·si-in·ti·mat·ed, adjective

un·in·ti·mat·ed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH intimate

intimate intimidate

Example sentences from the Web for intimate

The Strange Social History of Our Most Intimate Institution.

The Real Story Behind the Fight for Marriage Equality |E.J. Graff |December 30, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Literature in the 14th century, Strohm points out, was an intimate, interactive affair.

A Year In The Life of The Canterbury Tales’ Storied Beginnings |Wendy Smith |December 25, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
She suggested that Gregory stack newspapers on his desk to give the set an intimate, coffeehouse feel.

David Gregory's 'Meet the Press' Eviction Exposed in Washingtonian Takedown |Lloyd Grove |December 23, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
But my favorites, and by far the most intimate photos at the gallery, are by Jimmy Steinfeld.

‘All Good Cretins Go to Heaven’: Dee Dee Ramone’s Twisted Punk Paintings |Melissa Leon |December 15, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

It offers keen insights into Hitch's craft while painting an intimate and unsentimental picture of the man behind the camera.

Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days |David Freeman |December 13, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The impressions of one of his most intimate friends, as conveyed at the time by letter, may fitly be quoted here.

Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 8, January, 1851 |Various
His intimate friend, who came with him, had the good fortune to be close to Bertha, and had witnessed all that had occurred.

Materialized Apparitions |Edward Augustus Brackett
Dodichet entered the room as jauntily as if it were a tavern, leading his intimate friend by the hand.

San-Cravate; or, The Messengers; Little Streams |Charles Paul de Kock
Though there is the chamber wall seen behind the chair, there is nothing to intimate that the door or the window is closed.

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol. 70, No. 431, September 1851 |Various
And so it is with all his intimate relations, which are unusually sweet and tender.

Behind the Mirrors |Clinton W. Gilbert

British Dictionary definitions for intimate (1 of 2)

intimate ¹

/ (ˈɪntɪmɪt) /

adjective

characterized by a close or warm personal relationship an intimate friend

deeply personal, private, or secret

(often postpositive foll by with) euphemistic having sexual relations (with)

(postpositive foll by with) having a deep or unusual knowledge (of)
(of knowledge) deep; extensive

having a friendly, warm, or informal atmosphere an intimate nightclub

of or relating to the essential part or nature of something; intrinsic

denoting the informal second person of verbs and pronouns in French and other languages

noun

a close friend

Derived forms of intimate

intimately, adverb intimateness, noun

Word Origin for intimate

C17: from Latin intimus very close friend, from (adj): innermost, deepest, from intus within

British Dictionary definitions for intimate (2 of 2)

intimate ²

/ (ˈɪntɪˌmeɪt) /

verb (tr; may take a clause as object)

to hint; suggest

to proclaim; make known

Derived forms of intimate

intimater, noun

Word Origin for intimate

C16: from Late Latin intimāre to proclaim, from Latin intimus innermost

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

intimate

adjective

noun

Origin of intimate

SYNONYMS FOR intimate

OTHER WORDS FROM intimate

Words nearby intimate

Definition for intimate (2 of 2)

verb (used with object), in·ti·mat·ed, in·ti·mat·ing.

Origin of intimate

SYNONYMS FOR intimate

OTHER WORDS FROM intimate

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH intimate

Example sentences from the Web for intimate

British Dictionary definitions for intimate (1 of 2)

adjective

noun

Derived forms of intimate

Word Origin for intimate

British Dictionary definitions for intimate (2 of 2)

verb (tr; may take a clause as object)

Derived forms of intimate

Word Origin for intimate

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

intimate

adjective

noun

Origin of intimate

SYNONYMS FOR intimate

OTHER WORDS FROM intimate

Words nearby intimate

Definition for intimate (2 of 2)

verb (used with object), in·ti·mat·ed, in·ti·mat·ing.

Origin of intimate

SYNONYMS FOR intimate

OTHER WORDS FROM intimate

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH intimate

Words related to intimate

Example sentences from the Web for intimate

British Dictionary definitions for intimate (1 of 2)

adjective

noun

Derived forms of intimate

Word Origin for intimate

British Dictionary definitions for intimate (2 of 2)

verb (tr; may take a clause as object)

Derived forms of intimate

Word Origin for intimate