What does intimate mean?

Definitions for intimate
ˈɪn təˌmeɪtin·ti·mate

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word intimate.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. confidant, intimateadjective

    someone to whom private matters are confided

  2. intimateadjective

    marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity

    "intimate friend"; "intimate relations between economics, politics, and legal principles" - V.L. Parrington

  3. cozy, intimate, informaladjective

    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"

  4. familiar, intimateadjective

    having mutual interests or affections; of established friendship

    "on familiar terms"; "pretending she is on an intimate footing with those she slanders"

  5. intimate, sexualadjective

    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"

  6. inner, internal, intimateadjective

    innermost or essential

    "the inner logic of Cubism"; "the internal contradictions of the theory"; "the intimate structure of matter"

  7. intimate, knowledgeable, versedverb

    thoroughly acquainted through study or experience

    "this girl, so intimate with nature"-W.H.Hudson; "knowledgeable about the technique of painting"- Herbert Read

  8. intimate, adumbrate, insinuateverb

    give to understand

    "I insinuated that I did not like his wife"

  9. suggest, intimateverb

    imply as a possibility

    "The evidence suggests a need for more clarification"

Wiktionary

  1. intimatenoun

    A very close friend.

    Only a couple of intimates had ever read his writing.

  2. intimatenoun

    (in plural intimates) Women's underwear, sleepwear, or lingerie, especially offered for sale in a store.

    You'll find bras and panties in the women's intimates section upstairs.

  3. intimateverb

    To suggest or disclose discreetly.

    He intimated that we should leave before the argument escalated.

  4. intimateadjective

    Closely acquainted; familiar.

    He and his sister deeply valued their intimate relationship as they didn't have much else to live for.

  5. intimateadjective

    Of or involved in a sexual relationship.

    She enjoyed some intimate time alone with her husband.

  6. intimateadjective

    Personal, private.

  7. Etymology: From intimare, from intimus, superlative of intus, from in; see interior.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. INTIMATEadjective

    Etymology: intimado, Spanish; intimus, Lat.

    They knew not
    That what I mention'd was of God, I knew
    From intimate impulse, and therefore urged on
    The marriage. John Milton, Agonist. l. 221.

    Fear being so intimate to our natures, it is the strongest bond of laws. John Tillotson, Sermons.

    Moses was with him in the retirements of the mount, received there his private instructions; and when the multitude were thundered away from any approach, he was honoured with an intimate and immediate admission. Robert South, Sermons.

    United by this sympathetick bond,
    You grow familiar, intimate, and fond. Wentworth Dillon.

  2. Intimatenoun

    A familiar friend; one who is trusted with our thoughts.

    Etymology: intimado, Spanish; intime, French; intimus, Latin.

    The design was to entertain his reason with a more equal converse, assign him an intimate whose intellect as much corresponded with his as did the outward form. Gov. Tongue.

  3. To Intimateverb

    To hint; to point out indirectly, or not very plainly.

    Etymology: intimer, French; intimare, low Latin.

    Alexander Van Suchten tells us, that by a way he intimates, may be made a mercury of copper, not of the silver colour of other mercuries, but green. Boyle.

    The names of simple ideas and substances, with the abstract ideas in the mind, intimate some real existence, from which was derived their original patern. John Locke.

    'Tis the divinity that stirs within us;
    'Tis heav'n itself that points out an hereafter,
    And intimates eternity to man. Joseph Addison, Cato.

ChatGPT

  1. intimate

    Intimate refers to a close, personal, and often affectional or loving relationship or familiarity with someone or something. It can also refer to a very personal or private matter usually linked with personal feelings or experiences. The term can also be used to describe detailed, thorough knowledge or understanding of something. In its adjective form, it can describe things that are personal, private, or characterized by close personal relationships.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Intimateadjective

    innermost; inward; internal; deep-seated; hearty

  2. Intimateadjective

    near; close; direct; thorough; complete

  3. Intimateadjective

    close in friendship or acquaintance; familiar; confidential; as, an intimate friend

  4. Intimatenoun

    an intimate friend or associate; a confidant

  5. Intimateadjective

    to announce; to declare; to publish; to communicate; to make known

  6. Intimateadjective

    to suggest obscurely or indirectly; to refer to remotely; to give slight notice of; to hint; as, he intimated his intention of resigning his office

  7. Etymology: [L. intimatus, p. p. of intimare to put, bring, drive, or press into, to announce, make known, from intimus the inmost. See Intimate, a.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Intimate

    in′ti-māt, adj. innermost: internal: close: closely acquainted: familiar.—n. a familiar friend: an associate.—v.t. to hint: to announce.—n. In′timacy, state of being intimate: close familiarity.—adv. In′timately.—n. Intimā′tion, obscure notice: hint: announcement. [L. intimāre, ātumintimus, innermostintus, within.]

Editors Contribution

  1. intimate

    Feelings expressed by a couple, people who are married or in a romantic relationship that are a personal way for the couple to express their relationship and commitment to each other.

    Intimate feelings are expressed in a variety of ways and are relative to the age, choices and maturity of the couple.


    Submitted by MaryC on March 29, 2020  

Matched Categories

British National Corpus

  1. Adjectives Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'intimate' in Adjectives Frequency: #988

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of intimate in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of intimate in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of intimate in a Sentence

  1. Michael Palladino:

    The The Manhattan DA DA's office needs to enter the 21st century. This is the age of technology. People keep loads of personal info on their phones that they prefer remains confidential, a woman should not have to surrender confidential intimate information that's immaterial to the case to defend herself against a sexual predator.

  2. Bill Belichick:

    Certainly, Tom has an intimate knowledge of everything that we do here, more so than any other player in the league by far. So, I’m sure he’ll use it to his advantage. I would expect him to, i don’t think it would be in our best interest to go in there and do everything differently than we’ve done it all year. What we need to do is continue to do the things we do and do them better. That would help us more than anything else.

  3. David Sharp:

    Hunters try to kill the deer with the largest antlers, fishermen tell stories of their biggest catch, and we sensationalize even the act of dieting by hosting reality TV shows such as The Biggest Loser, when we are bombarded with the appeal of getting things bigger or larger, it creates a bit of dissonance that the message for our most intimate choices such as our meals, our plates and our bodies runs opposite to our culture of plenty when considering long-term health and wellness.

  4. Zinta Aistars:

    ”Aberjhani is also known as author of Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance, The Bridge of Silver Wings, and The Wisdom of W.E.B. Dubois. He publishes often in various publications, print and online. His poetry has an intensely intimate courage, the sort we would all wish to have, but too often hold protectively back.”

  5. Kent Yalowitz:

    There was extensive evidence that the orchestrated terrorism campaign was not only to coerce and intimidate the government of Israel but also to coerce and intimate the government of the United States.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

intimate#1#9197#10000

Translations for intimate

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"intimate." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 Dec. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/intimate>.

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