intimate

1
[ in-tuh-mit ]
See synonyms for: intimateintimatedintimatesintimating on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. associated in close personal relations: an intimate friend.

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

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

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

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

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

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

  6. detailed; deep: a more intimate analysis.

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

  8. inmost; deep within.

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

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

noun
  1. an intimate friend or associate, especially a confidant.

Origin of intimate

1
First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin intimātus, past participle of intimāre “to announce, make known,” derivative of intimus “inmost, most intimate”; see intima

synonym study For intimate

1. See familiar.

Other words for intimate

Other words from intimate

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

Other definitions for intimate (2 of 2)

intimate2
[ in-tuh-meyt ]

verb (used with object),in·ti·mat·ed, in·ti·mat·ing.
  1. to indicate or make known indirectly; hint; imply; suggest.

  2. Archaic. to make known; announce.

Origin of intimate

2
First recorded in 1530–40; from Late Latin intimātus, past participle of intimāre “to impress (upon), make known,” equivalent to intim(us) “inmost” (see intima) + -ātus -ate1

synonym study For intimate

1. See hint.

Other words from intimate

  • in·ti·mat·er, noun
  • in·ti·ma·tion [in-tuh-mey-shuhn], /ˌɪn təˈmeɪ ʃən/, noun
  • pre·in·ti·ma·tion, noun

Words that may be confused with intimate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use intimate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for intimate (1 of 2)

intimate1

/ (ˈɪntɪmɪt) /


adjective
  1. characterized by a close or warm personal relationship: an intimate friend

  2. deeply personal, private, or secret

  1. (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

  2. having a friendly, warm, or informal atmosphere: an intimate nightclub

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

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

noun
  1. a close friend

Origin of intimate

1
C17: from Latin intimus very close friend, from (adj): innermost, deepest, from intus within

Derived forms of intimate

  • intimately, adverb
  • intimateness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for intimate (2 of 2)

intimate2

/ (ˈɪntɪˌmeɪt) /


verb(tr; may take a clause as object)
  1. to hint; suggest

  2. to proclaim; make known

Origin of intimate

2
C16: from Late Latin intimāre to proclaim, from Latin intimus innermost

Derived forms of intimate

  • intimater, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012