1 (of people) having a close and friendly relationship:
intimate friends * We're not on intimate terms with our neighbours.
2 private and personal, often in a sexual way:
The article revealed intimate details about his family life. * the most intimate parts of her body
3 (of a place or situation) encouraging close, friendly relationships, sometimes of a sexual nature:
an intimate restaurant / dinner / conversation * He knew an intimate little bar where they would not be disturbed.
4 (of knowledge) very detailed and thorough:
an intimate knowledge of the English countryside
5 (of a link between things) very close:
an intimate connection between class and educational success
6 ~ (with sb) (formal or law) having a sexual relationship with sb
intimately adverb:
intimately connected / linked / related * an area of the country that he knew intimately * She was intimately involved in the project. * They touched each other intimately (= in a sexual way).
verb ~ sth (to sb) (formal) to let sb know what you think or mean in an indirect way: [VN] He has already intimated to us his intention to retire. * [V(that)] He has already intimated (that) he intends to retire.
noun (formal) a close personal friend:
He was a wartime minister and intimate of Churchill.
