labyrinthine

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Pronunciation

• IPA: /læb.əˈɹɪn.θɪn/, /læb.əˈɹɪn.θin/, /læb.əˈɹɪn.θaɪn/

Adjective

labyrinthine

1. Physically resembling a labyrinth; with the qualities of a maze.
   • 1996, Steen L. Jensen, H. Gregerson. M. H. Shokouh-Amin, F. G. Moody, (eds.), Essentials of Experimental Surgery: Gastroenterology, page 27/4

     In the pyloric canal, muscular ridges are more fixed than elsewhere and produce quite a labyrinthine surface.

   • 2011, Lincoln Child, Deep Storm, page 185

     Crane trotted along the labyrinthine corridors of deck 3, accompanied by a young marine with close-cropped blond hair.

2. (figurative) Convoluted, baffling, confusing, perplexing.
   • 2000, Joseph J. Ellis, Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation, page 51

     Any attempt to answer that question would carry us into the labyrinthine corridors of Jefferson's famously elusive mind.

   • 2005, Michael W. Riley, "Plato's Cratylus: Argument, form, and structure", page 103

     By coupling "essence" with "name" within a series of contraposed pairs of names, Socrates indicates the point to which he thinks his labyrinthine argument has led so far in the Cratylus.

Synonyms

• (resembling a labyrinth) labyrinthal, labyrinthial, labyrinthian, labyrinthic, labyrinthical, labyrinthiform
• (twisting, convoluted) baffling, confusing, convoluted

Related terms

• labyrinth
• labyrinthal
• labyrinthed
• labyrinthial
• labyrinthian
• labyrinthic
• labyrinthical
• labyrinthically
• labyrinthiform

Translations

• French: labyrinthique
• German: labyrinthartig
• Italian: labirintico
• Portuguese: labiríntico
• Russian: лабиринтообразный
• Spanish: laberíntico

Translations

• Portuguese: labiríntico
• Russian: запутанный
• Spanish: laberíntico

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