a complex system of interconnecting cavities; concerned with hearing and equilibrium
"The surgeon examined the patient's inner ear to map out the labyrinth, ensuring no damage occurred to the delicate structures responsible for balance."
a maze-like structure built by Daedalus in Knossos, containing the Minotaur
"The ancient myth describes how Theseus entered the labyrinth to slay the Minotaur."
a complicated irregular network of passages or paths, especially underground or covered, in which it is difficult to find one's way
"The old sewer system beneath the city was so dense and confusing that even seasoned workers got lost while trying to locate the main valve."
to enclose in a labyrinth, or as though in a labyrinth
"The new shopping center was designed to enclose shoppers in a labyrinth of winding corridors and hidden alleys."
The word "labyrinth" comes from the Latin labyrinthus, which was borrowed from the Ancient Greek labyrinthos. In its original form, it meant a maze.