Etymology : Middle English, to roll up, wrap, from Latin involvere, from in- + volvere to roll; more at VOLUBLE
Pronunciation : in-välv, -volv
also
Function : transitive verb
Date : 14th century
1. include; cause to be concerned with, entangle; engage, engross; complicate; incriminate, cause to be connected with. involve\in*volve"\ , v. t. [imp. & p. p. involved ; p. pr. & vb. n. involving.] [l. involvere, involutum, to roll about, wrap up; pref. in- in + volvere to roll: cf. of. involver. see:
voluble, and cf. involute.].
2. to roll or fold up; to wind round; to entwine. some of serpent kind involved their snaky folds.
3. to envelop completely; to surround; to cover; to hide; to involve in darkness or obscurity. and leave a singèd bottom all involved with stench and smoke.
4. to complicate or make intricate, as in grammatical structure. "involved discourses.".
5. to connect with something as a natural or logical consequence or effect; to include necessarily; to imply. he knows his end with mine involved. the contrary necessarily involves a contradiction.
6. to take in; to gather in; to mingle confusedly; to blend or merge. [r.] the gathering number, as it moves along, involves a vast involuntary throng. earth with hell to mingle and involve.
7. to envelop, infold, entangle, or embarrass; as, to involve a person in debt or misery.
8. to engage thoroughly; to occupy, employ, or absorb. "involved in a deep study." w. scott.
9. (math.) to raise to any assigned power; to multiply, as a quantity, into itself a given number of times; as, a quantity involved to the third or fourth power.
10. To roll or fold up; to wind round; to entwine.
11. To envelop completely; to surround; to cover; to hide; to involve in darkness or obscurity.
12. To complicate or make intricate, as in grammatical structure.
13. To connect with something as a natural or logical consequence or effect; to include necessarily; to imply.
14. To take in; to gather in; to mingle confusedly; to blend or merge.
15. To envelop, infold, entangle, or embarrass; as, to involve a person in debt or misery.
16. To engage thoroughly; to occupy, employ, or absorb.
17. To raise to any assigned power; to multiply, as a quantity, into itself a given number of times; as, a quantity involved to the third or fourth power. make complex or intricate or complicated; "The situation was rather involved" occupy or engage the interest of; "His story completely involved me during the entire afternoon" wrap; "The tower was involved in mist" contain as a part; "Dinner at Joe's always involves at least six courses" connect closely and often incriminatingly; "This new ruling affects your business" engage as a participant; "Don't involve me in your family affairs!".
18. 1. If a situation or activity involves something, that thing is a necessary part or consequence of it. Running a kitchen involves a great deal of discipline and speed Nicky's job as a public relations director involves spending quite a lot of time with other people. = entail.
19. If a situation or activity involves someone, they are taking part in it. If there was a cover-up, it involved people at the very highest levels of government.
20. If you say that someone involves themselves in something, you mean that they take part in it, often in a way that is unnecessary or unwanted. I seem to have involved myself in something I don't understand.
21. If you involve someone else in something, you get them to take part in it. Noel and I do everything together, he involves me in everything.
22. If one thing involves you in another thing, especially something unpleasant or inconvenient, the first thing causes you to do or deal with the second. A late booking may involve you in extra cost.