Definition of INTIMATE

intimate

Plural: intimates

Noun

  • someone to whom private matters are confided
  • A very close friend.
  • Women's underwear, sleepwear, or lingerie, especially offered for sale in a store.

Verb

Verb Forms: intimated, intimating, intimates

  • To suggest or hint at something indirectly.
  • give to understand
  • imply as a possibility
  • To suggest or disclose (something) discreetly.
  • To notify.

Adjective Satellite

  • marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity; ; - V.L. Parrington
    • "intimate friend"
    • "intimate relations between economics, politics, and legal principles"
  • having or fostering a warm or friendly and informal atmosphere
    • "an intimate cocktail lounge"
    • "the small room was cozy and intimate"
  • having mutual interests or affections; of established friendship
    • "pretending she is on an intimate footing with those she slanders"
  • 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"
  • innermost or essential
    • "the intimate structure of matter"
  • thoroughly acquainted through study or experience; -W.H.Hudson; - Herbert Read
    • "this girl, so intimate with nature"

Adj

  • Closely acquainted; familiar.
  • Of or involved in a sexual relationship.
  • Personal; private.
  • Pertaining to details that require great familiarity to know
  • Very finely mixed.

Examples

  • an intimate friend
  • an intimate setting
  • Black powder consists of an intimate mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur.
  • He and his sister deeply valued their intimate relationship as they didn't have much else to live for.
  • He intimated that we should leave before the argument escalated.
  • His subtle tile rearrangement would often INTIMATE a powerful play was coming.
  • I will intimate you when the details are available.
  • Only a couple of intimates had ever read his writing.
  • She enjoyed some intimate time alone with her husband.
  • The candidate showed an intimate knowledge of the inner workings of politics.
  • You'll find bras and panties in the intimates section upstairs.

Origin / Etymology

Borrowed from Latin intimātus, the perfect passive participle of intimō (“to put or bring into, to impress, to make familiar”) (see -ate (adjective forming suffix)), from intimus (“inmost, innermost, most intimate”), superlative of intus (“within”), from in (“in”); see interior.

Synonyms

adumbrate, confidant, cozy, familiar, informal, inner, insinuate, internal, knowledgeable, sexual, suggest, versed, bosom buddy, bosom friend, cater-cousin, intimate apparel

Scrabble Score: 10

intimate: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
intimate: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
intimate: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 12

intimate: valid Words With Friends Word