intimate 1
— intimately , adv. — intimateness , n.
/in"teuh mit/ , adj.
1. associated in close personal relations: an intimate friend.
2. characterized by or involving warm friendship or a personally close or familiar association or feeling: an intimate greeting.
3. very private; closely personal: one's intimate affairs.
4. characterized by or suggesting privacy or intimacy; warmly cozy: an intimate little café.
5. (of an association, knowledge, understanding, etc.) arising from close personal connection or familiar experience.
6. engaged in or characterized by sexual relations.
7. (of clothing) worn next to the skin, under street or outer garments: intimate apparel.
8. detailed; deep: a more intimate analysis.
9. showing a close union or combination of particles or elements: an intimate mixture.
10. inmost; deep within.
11. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the inmost or essential nature; intrinsic: the intimate structure of an organism.
12. of, pertaining to, or existing in the inmost depths of the mind: intimate beliefs.
n.
13. an intimate friend or associate, esp. a confidant.
[ 1600-10; intim ( us ) a close friend (n. use of the adj.; see INTIMA) + -ATE 1 ]
Syn. 1. dear. See familiar. 3. privy, secret. 8. exacting, thorough. 13. crony.
intimate 2
— intimater , n. — intimation , n.
/in"teuh mayt'/ , v.t., intimated, intimating .
1. to indicate or make known indirectly; hint; imply; suggest.
2. Archaic. to make known; announce.
[ 1530-40; intimatus, ptp. of intimare to impress (upon), make known, equiv. to intim ( us ) inmost (see INTIMA) + -atus -ATE 1 ]
Syn. 1. See hint .