ˈlabəˌrin(t)th, -_rə̇n- noun
( plural labyrinths -n(t)s, -n(t)ths)
Etymology: alteration (influenced by Latin labyrinthus ) of Middle English laborintus, from Latin labyrinthus, from Greek labyrinthos, probably of Carian origin; akin to Greek labrys double ax
1.
a. : a structure full of intricate passageways that make it difficult to find the way from the interior to the entrance or from the entrance to the center
the labyrinth constructed by Daedalus for Minos, king of Crete, in which the Minotaur was confined
b. : a maze in a park or garden formed by paths separated by high thick hedges
2.
a. : something often bewilderingly involved or tortuous in structure, arrangement, or character : a complex that baffles exploration
a labyrinth of swamps and shifting channels — P.E.James
the labyrinth of a great novel — E.K.Brown
b. : a situation or state (as of mind) from which it is difficult to extricate oneself
a labyrinth of despair
sank into the blissful labyrinth of a dream — Earle Birney
c. : intricacy , perplexity — usually used in plural
sustain the reader through the analytical labyrinths — Hunter Mead
guided them through the labyrinths of city life — Paul Blanshard
3.
a. : the internal ear or its bony or membranous part — see bony labyrinth , membranous labyrinth
b. : the portions of the cortex of the kidney consisting of tortuous uriniferous tubules
c. : a body structure (as the accessory respiratory organ of a labyrinth fish) made up of a maze of cavities and canals
4. : an intricate sometimes symbolic pattern ; specifically : such a pattern inlaid in the pavement of a medieval church
5.
a. : a device consisting of an arrangement (as a succession of grooves and collars, grooves and rings, tortuous passageways) usually for the purpose of offering resistance to fluid flow (as to prevent leakage, promote condensation, separate component elements according to specific gravities)
b. : an enclosure consisting of an undulatory passage connected to the rear of a loudspeaker and providing improved low-frequency response — called also acoustical labyrinth