Definition

1. Noun:
   • The quality or state of being intricate; complexity: Refers to something having many small, detailed, and interconnected parts, making it complicated or difficult to understand.
   • A complex, detailed, or involved element or part: Often used in the plural form "intricacies" to refer to the complicated details of something.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The intricacy of the watch's mechanism fascinated the engineer. (The complex, detailed nature of the watch's inner workings was fascinating.)
  • She explained the legal intricacies of the contract. (She explained the complicated and detailed aspects of the contract.)
  • The artist is known for the incredible intricacy of her designs. (The artist is known for the highly detailed and complex quality of her designs.)

Advanced Usage

• "to grasp/understand the intricacies of something": to comprehend the complex details of a subject.
  • It takes years to grasp the intricacies of international trade law.
• "the full intricacy of something": the complete and often surprising complexity of something.
  • The investigation revealed the full intricacy of the fraud scheme.

Variants and Related Words

• Intricate (adj): Very complicated or detailed.
  • The pattern on the vase was intricate and beautiful.
• Intricately (adv): In an intricate manner.
  • The ceiling was intricately carved.

Synonyms

• Complexity: The state of having many interconnected parts.
• Complication: A factor that makes something more complex.
• Elaborateness: The quality of being carefully worked out and detailed.

Antonyms

• Simplicity: The quality of being easy to understand or plain.
• Clarity: Clearness of thought or expression.

Related Phrases

• A web/tangle of intricacy: Describes a situation of extreme and confusing complexity.
  • The plot of the novel was a web of intricacy.
• To delve into the intricacies: To examine or study the complex details deeply.
  • The course delves into the intricacies of cellular biology.

Noun

1. marked by elaborately complex detail