Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Closely acquainted; familiar: Characterizing a relationship marked by close personal association, deep knowledge, or warm friendship.
   • Private and personal: Relating to one's deepest nature, private life, or innermost thoughts; also describing a cozy, private atmosphere.
   • Involving sexual relations: Denoting a physically or emotionally close relationship of a sexual nature.
   • Essential; innermost: Pertaining to the most fundamental, internal, or intrinsic nature of something.

2. Noun:

   • A close friend or confidant: A person with whom one shares a very close, trusting, and private relationship.

3. Verb:

   • To state indirectly; to hint or imply: To make something known subtly or suggestively, without stating it directly.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • They are intimate friends who share everything. (Describes a close, familiar friendship.)
  • The restaurant had an intimate atmosphere, perfect for a quiet dinner. (Describes a cozy, private setting.)
  • She shared her most intimate thoughts in her diary. (Describes private, personal thoughts.)
  • The book explores the intimate connection between culture and language. (Describes a deep, essential connection.)

• Noun:

  • He is one of my few intimates; I trust him completely. (Refers to a close confidant.)

• Verb:

  • The report intimates that changes are necessary, without explicitly demanding them. (Means to suggest or hint.)

Advanced Usage

• "To be on intimate terms with someone": To have a very close, friendly, and familiar relationship with someone.

  • After years of collaboration, they are on intimate terms with each other.

• "Intimate knowledge of": Possessing very detailed, thorough, and personal knowledge about a subject.

  • The guide has an intimate knowledge of the city's hidden streets.

Variants and Related Words

• Intimacy (n): The state of being intimate; close familiarity or friendship.

  • Their long conversations deepened their intimacy.

• Intimately (adv): In a close, familiar, or detailed manner.

  • She is intimately familiar with the project's history.

Synonyms

• Adjective (close): Familiar, close, confidential, bosom.
• Adjective (private): Personal, private, innermost.
• Verb (hint): Suggest, imply, insinuate, allude to.

Related Phrasal Verbs / Constructions

• Intimate to (someone): To communicate something privately or suggestively to someone.
  • He intimated to me his plans to resign.

Related Idioms

• An intimate of: A person who is a close friend or associate of someone.
  • He was known to be an intimate of the famous artist.

Adjective

1. thoroughly acquainted through study or experience
   • this girl, so intimate with nature-W.H.Hudson
   • knowledgeable about the technique of painting- Herbert Read
2. innermost or essential
   • the inner logic of Cubism
   • the internal contradictions of the theory
   • the intimate structure of matter
3. involved in a sexual relationship
   • the intimate (or sexual) relations between husband and wife
   • she had been intimate with many men
   • he touched her intimate parts
4. having mutual interests or affections; of established friendship
   • on familiar terms
   • pretending she is on an intimate footing with those she slanders
5. having or fostering a warm or friendly and informal atmosphere
   • had a cozy chat
   • a relaxed informal manner
   • an intimate cocktail lounge
   • the small room was cozy and intimate
6. marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity
   • intimate friend
   • intimate relations between economics, politics, and legal principles - V.L. Parrington

Noun

1. someone to whom private matters are confided

Verb

1. imply as a possibility
   • The evidence suggests a need for more clarification
2. give to understand
   • I insinuated that I did not like his wife