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intimate definition

in·ti·mate (in′tə mət; for v., -māt′)

adjective

  1. pertaining to the inmost character of a thing; fundamental the intimate structure of the atom
  2. most private or personal his intimate feelings
  3. closely acquainted or associated; very familiar an intimate friend
  4. promoting a feeling of privacy, coziness, romance, etc. an intimate nightclub
    1. resulting from careful study or investigation; thorough an intimate knowledge of French
    2. very close intimate acquaintance with the facts
  6. having illicit sexual relations: a euphemism

Etymology: altered (infl. by the v.) < earlier intime < Fr < L intimus, superl. of intus, within: see intestine

noun

an intimate friend or companion

transitive verb intimated -·mat′ed, intimating -·mat′·ing

  1. Archaic to make known formally; announce
  2. to make known indirectly; hint or imply

Etymology: < L intimatus, pp. of intimare, to announce < intimus

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

intimate Synonyms

intimate

modif.

  1. Personal

    close, guarded, private, secret, near, familiar, trusted, confidential, inmost, innermost; see also informal 1, private, secret 1, special 1.

    Antonyms public*, open*, unguarded. *

  2. Close

    devoted, fond, fast; see faithful, friendly 1. See syn. study at familiar.


intimate

n.

associate, constant companion, close friend, confidant; see friend 1.


intimate

v.

suggest, imply, infer; see hint 1. See syn. study at suggest.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

intimate Usage Examples

Object

  • motion: Under these rules, you should not intimate the motion to us before the first hearing.

Modifies a noun

  • acquaintance: They were too near; having been just recognized by a comparative stranger, I felt uneasy at this close vicinage of intimate acquaintance.

Modifying Another Word

  • wonderfully: With a wonderfully intimate style, Stacey has charmed audiences with a remarkable repertoire of standards.

Used with adjective complement

  • socialize: Featuring h the invitation by wonderful socializing intimate aboard from the.

Preposition: of

  • relationship: When Venus and the Moon are both in Water, we have the potential for the most intimate of relationships.
intimate usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

intimate quotes

Sharing food with another human being is an intimate act that should not be indulged in lightly.

-Fisher, M(ary) F(rances) K(ennedy)

We do not like the confiding, the intimate, the ingratiating, the hail-fellow-well-met, but prefer the unapproachable, the hard-bitten, the recalcitrant, the sinister, the malignant, the saturnine, the cross-grained and the cankered, and the howling wilderness to the amenities of civilization, the irascible to the affable, the prickly to the smooth.We have no damned fellow- feeling at all.

-Grieve

Decorative art doesnot existöonlyart, intimate, heroic, or epic.

-Rouault, Georges  Henri

intimate quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"intimate." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/intimate>

APA Style

intimate. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/intimate

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