intimate
in|ti|mate (intimates intimating intimated)
The adjective is pronounced /'ɪntɪmət/ The verb is pronounced /'ɪntɪmeɪt/
1 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
If you have an intimate friendship with someone, you know them very well and like them a lot.
I discussed with my intimate friends whether I would immediately have a baby.
● intimately [ADV] ADV after v, ADV -ed
He did not feel he had got to know them intimately.
2 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
If two people are in an intimate relationship, they are involved with each other in a loving or sexual way.
...their intimate moments with their boyfriends.
● intimately [ADV] ADV after v
You have to be willing to get to know yourself and your partner intimately.
3 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
An intimate conversation or detail, for example, is very personal and private.
He wrote about the intimate details of his family life...
= private
● intimately [ADV] ADV after v
It was the first time they had attempted to talk intimately.
4 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
If you use intimate to describe an occasion or the atmosphere of a place, you like it because it is quiet and pleasant, and seems suitable for close conversations between friends.
...an intimate candlelit dinner for two.
5 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
An intimate connection between ideas or organizations, for example, is a very strong link between them.
...an intimate connection between madness and wisdom...
● intimately [ADV] ADV after v
Property and equities are intimately connected in Hong Kong.
6 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
An intimate knowledge of something is a deep and detailed knowledge of it.
He surprised me with his intimate knowledge of Kierkegaard and Schopenhauer.
= thorough
● intimately [ADV] usu ADV after v
...a golden age of musicians whose work she knew intimately.
7 [VERB] V that, V to n n, also V n
If you intimate something, you say it in an indirect way. (FORMAL)
He went on to intimate that he was indeed contemplating a shake-up of the company...
He had intimated to the French and Russians his readiness to come to a settlement.
= hint
The adjective is pronounced /'ɪntɪmət/ The verb is pronounced /'ɪntɪmeɪt/
1 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
If you have an intimate friendship with someone, you know them very well and like them a lot.
I discussed with my intimate friends whether I would immediately have a baby.
● intimately [ADV] ADV after v, ADV -ed
He did not feel he had got to know them intimately.
2 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
If two people are in an intimate relationship, they are involved with each other in a loving or sexual way.
...their intimate moments with their boyfriends.
● intimately [ADV] ADV after v
You have to be willing to get to know yourself and your partner intimately.
3 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
An intimate conversation or detail, for example, is very personal and private.
He wrote about the intimate details of his family life...
= private
● intimately [ADV] ADV after v
It was the first time they had attempted to talk intimately.
4 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
If you use intimate to describe an occasion or the atmosphere of a place, you like it because it is quiet and pleasant, and seems suitable for close conversations between friends.
...an intimate candlelit dinner for two.
5 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
An intimate connection between ideas or organizations, for example, is a very strong link between them.
...an intimate connection between madness and wisdom...
● intimately [ADV] ADV after v
Property and equities are intimately connected in Hong Kong.
6 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
An intimate knowledge of something is a deep and detailed knowledge of it.
He surprised me with his intimate knowledge of Kierkegaard and Schopenhauer.
= thorough
● intimately [ADV] usu ADV after v
...a golden age of musicians whose work she knew intimately.
7 [VERB] V that, V to n n, also V n
If you intimate something, you say it in an indirect way. (FORMAL)
He went on to intimate that he was indeed contemplating a shake-up of the company...
He had intimated to the French and Russians his readiness to come to a settlement.
= hint