Englishlabyrinth
Definition
- : a place constructed of or full of intricate passageways and dead ends //a complex labyrinth of tunnels and chambers: a maze (as in a garden) formed by paths separated by high hedges
- : something extremely complex or tortuous (see tortuous sense 1) in structure, arrangement, or character : intricacy, perplexity //a labyrinth of swamps and channels //guided them through the labyrinths of city life — Paul Blanshard
- : a tortuous anatomical structureespecially : the internal ear or its bony or membranous part
Examples
- //a complex labyrinth of tunnels and chambers
- //The cockpit was a labyrinth of instruments and controls.
- //a labyrinth of social customs and rules
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1aHistory and Etymology
Middle English laborintus, from Latin labyrinthus, from Greek labyrinthoslabyrinth
noun
Synonyms
- a confusing and complicated arrangement of passages //we eventually realized that we were lost in the labyrinth of hallways in the museumSynonymsRelated Words
labyrinth
Definition
- : a place constructed of or full of intricate passageways and dead ends //a complex labyrinth of tunnels and chambers: a maze (as in a garden) formed by paths separated by high hedges
- : something extremely complex or tortuous (see tortuous sense 1) in structure, arrangement, or character : intricacy, perplexity //a labyrinth of swamps and channels //guided them through the labyrinths of city life — Paul Blanshard
- : a tortuous anatomical structureespecially : the internal ear or its bony or membranous part
Examples
- //a complex labyrinth of tunnels and chambers
- //The cockpit was a labyrinth of instruments and controls.
- //a labyrinth of social customs and rules
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1aHistory and Etymology
Middle English laborintus, from Latin labyrinthus, from Greek labyrinthoslabyrinth
noun
Synonyms
- a confusing and complicated arrangement of passages //we eventually realized that we were lost in the labyrinth of hallways in the museumSynonymsRelated Words