If you describe a place as a labyrinth, you mean that it is made up of a complicated series of paths or passages, through which it is difficult to find your way.
[literary]
...the labyrinth of corridors. [+ of]
2. countable noun
If you describe a situation, process, or area of knowledge as a labyrinth, you mean that it is very complicated.
[formal]
...a labyrinth of conflicting political and sociological interpretations. [+ of]
Synonyms: intricacy, puzzle, complexity, riddle More Synonyms of labyrinth
More Synonyms of labyrinth
labyrinth in British English
(ˈlæbərɪnθ)
noun
1.
a mazelike network of tunnels, chambers, or paths, either natural or man-made
Compare maze (sense 1)
2.
any complex or confusing system of streets, passages, etc
3.
a complex or intricate situation
4.
a.
any system of interconnecting cavities, esp those comprising the internal ear
b. another name for internal ear
5. electronics
an enclosure behind a high-performance loudspeaker, consisting of a series of air chambers designed to absorb unwanted sound waves
Word origin
C16: via Latin from Greek laburinthos, of obscure origin
Labyrinth in British English
(ˈlæbərɪnθ)
noun
Greek mythology
a huge maze constructed for King Minos in Crete by Daedalus to contain the Minotaur
labyrinth in American English
(ˈlæbəˌrɪnθ)
noun
1.
a structure containing an intricate network of winding passages hard to follow without losing one's way; maze
2.
a complicated, perplexing arrangement, course of affairs, etc.
3. Anatomy
the inner ear
see also ear1
4. [L-]; Greek Mythology
the labyrinthine structure built by Daedalus for King Minos of Crete, to house the Minotaur
Word origin
ME laborintus (altered by folk etym. by assoc. with L labor, labor + intus, into) < L labyrinthus < Gr labyrinthos, of pre-Hellenic orig.
Examples of 'labyrinth' in a sentence
labyrinth
And so I made another hurried dash through the twisting labyrinth.
Robin Hobb THE GOLDEN FOOL: BOOK TWO OF THE TAWNY MAN (2002)
I hurried through the labyrinth of corridors to emerge in my bedchamber.
Robin Hobb THE GOLDEN FOOL: BOOK TWO OF THE TAWNY MAN (2002)
Chade had trusted him with at least some of the labyrinth of passages of the keep.
Robin Hobb THE GOLDEN FOOL: BOOK TWO OF THE TAWNY MAN (2002)
At last we came to a large, circular chamber at what I guessed to be the labyrinth 's very center.
David Zindell THE LIGHTSTONE: BOOK ONE, PART TWO OF THE EA CYCLE (2002)
In other languages
labyrinth
British English: labyrinth NOUN
If you describe a place as a labyrinth, you mean that it is made up of a complicated series of paths or passages.
...the labyrinth of corridors.
American English: labyrinth
Brazilian Portuguese: labirinto
Chinese: 迷宫
European Spanish: laberinto
French: labyrinthe
German: Labyrinth
Italian: labirinto
Japanese: 迷路
Korean: 미로
European Portuguese: labirinto
Latin American Spanish: laberinto
1 (noun)
Definition
a mazelike network of tunnels or paths, either natural or man-made
a labyrinth of corridors
Synonyms
maze
jungle
a jungle of stuffed sofas, stuffed birds, knick-knacks, potted plants
tangle
I was thinking what a tangle we had got ourselves into.
coil
snarl
a snarl of logs and branches
entanglement
2 (noun)
Definition
any complex or confusing system
a labyrinth of conflicting political interpretations
Synonyms
intricacy
Garments are priced according to the intricacy of the work.
puzzle
a word puzzle
complexity
a diplomatic problem of great complexity
riddle
complication
Her poetry was characterised by a complication of imagery and ideas.
tangle
maze
the maze of rules and regulations
a maze of dimly-lit corridors
entanglement
perplexity
the perplexities of quantum mechanics
convolution
the size, shape and convolutions of the human brain
knotty problem
Additional synonyms
in the sense of complexity
Definition
something complicated
a diplomatic problem of great complexity
Synonyms
complication,
involvement,
intricacy,
entanglement,
convolution
in the sense of complication
Her poetry was characterised by a complication of imagery and ideas.
Synonyms
complexity,
combination,
mixture,
web,
confusion,
intricacy,
entanglement
in the sense of convolution
Definition
an intricate or confused matter or condition
the size, shape and convolutions of the human brain
Synonyms
twist,
complexity,
intricacy,
contortion,
winding,
curl,
loop,
spiral,
coil,
coiling,
helix,
undulation,
curlicue,
involution,
sinuosity,
tortuousness,
sinuousness
Nearby words of
labyrinth
Labour Party
laboured
labourer
labyrinth
labyrinthine
lace
lace into
Synonyms of 'labyrinth'
labyrinth
Explore 'labyrinth' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of jungle
Definition
a confused or confusing situation
a jungle of stuffed sofas, stuffed birds, knick-knacks, potted plants
Synonyms
maze,
web,
puzzle,
confusion,
uncertainty,
tangle,
snarl,
mesh,
bewilderment,
perplexity,
imbroglio
in the sense of perplexity
Definition
something that perplexes
the perplexities of quantum mechanics
Synonyms
complexity,
difficulty,
mystery,
involvement,
puzzle,
paradox,
obscurity,
enigma,
intricacy,
inextricability
in the sense of puzzle
Definition
a toy, game, or question presenting a problem that requires skill or ingenuity for its solution
a word puzzle
Synonyms
problem,
riddle,
maze,
labyrinth,
question,
conundrum,
teaser,
poser,
brain-teaser (informal)
in the sense of snarl
a snarl of logs and branches
Synonyms
tangle,
mass,
twist,
web,
knot,
jungle,
mat,
coil,
mesh,
ravel,
entanglement
in the sense of tangle
Definition
a complicated problem or situation
I was thinking what a tangle we had got ourselves into.