intimate

Other forms: intimated; intimates; intimating

Intimate means being close. A small restaurant is called intimate because you're sitting close to the other people, and your best friends are considered your intimate friends.

This adjective can mean very friendly, or very personal or private. The original spelling was intime, from French, from Latin intimus "innermost," from intus "within." The related verb intimate means to hint or suggest. Intimate is also a noun meaning a close friend or associate. You might intimate to your intimates that you want to leave a boring party.

Definitions of intimate

1. adjective

   marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity
   “intimate friend”

   “"intimate relations between economics, politics, and legal principles" - V.L. Parrington”

   synonyms:

   close

   close in relevance or relationship
2. adjective

   having mutual interests or affections; of established friendship
   “pretending she is on an intimate footing with those she slanders”

   synonyms: familiar

   close

   close in relevance or relationship
3. adjective

   involved in a sexual relationship
   synonyms: sexual

   sexy

   marked by or tending to arouse sexual desire or interest
4. adjective

   thoroughly acquainted through study or experience
   “"this girl, so intimate with nature"-W.H.Hudson”

   synonyms: knowledgeable, versant, versed

   experienced, experient

   having experience; having knowledge or skill from observation or participation
5. adjective

   innermost or essential
   “the intimate structure of matter”

   synonyms: inner, internal

   intrinsic, intrinsical

   belonging to a thing by its very nature
6. adjective

   having or fostering a warm or friendly and informal atmosphere
   synonyms: cozy, informal

   friendly

   characteristic of or befitting a friend
7. noun

   someone to whom private matters are confided
   synonyms: confidant

   types:

   confidante

   a female confidant

   repository, secretary

   a person to whom a secret is entrusted

   type of:

   friend

   a person you know well and regard with affection and trust