Main Entry: ex·tri·cate Pronunciation: 'ek-str&-"kAt Function: transitive verb Inflected Form(s): -cat·ed; -cat·ing Etymology: Latin extricatus, past participle of extricare, from ex- + tricae trifles, perplexities Date: 1614 1 a archaic : UNRAVEL b : to distinguish from a related thing 2 : to free or remove from an entanglement or difficulty EXTRICATE: implies the use of care or ingenuity in freeing from a difficult position or situation