intricate

3 definitions • 4 examples

having a lot of small parts that are arranged in a complicated or delicate way:

The watch mechanism is extremely intricate and very difficult to repair.

The tiled floor is installed in an intricate pattern.

with many complicated details that make something difficult to understand:

Police officers uncovered an intricate web of deceit.

having a lot of small parts or pieces arranged in a complicated way, and therefore sometimes difficult to understand in detail:

The novel’s intricate plot will not be easy to translate into a movie.