Dunno is listening to you
complement [ c·o·m·p·le·ment ]
Pronounce
Video
News
LanguageFilter
All
English-English
Phrase
Synonymous
Grammar
Collocation
Level
Noun
1. A thing that contributes extra features to something else in such a way as to improve or emphasize its quality.
These are both very strong extras that make a good complement to the OAV.
Show more (2)
2. A number or quantity of something, especially that required to make a group complete.
In a sign of the gravity of the talks, Dr Reid was accompanied by a full complement of civil servants.
Show more (2)
3. The number of people required to crew a ship.
The ship's complement is 210 crew with 13 officers.
Show more (2)
4. The amount in degrees by which a given angle is less than 90°.
5. The members of a set or class that are not members of a given subset.
Likewise, in base 2, the complement of a number is obtained by subtraction from a row of 1's.
6. One or more words, phrases, or clauses governed by a verb (or by a nominalization or a predicative adjective) that complete the meaning of the predicate. In generative grammar, all the constituents of a sentence that are governed by a verb form the complement.
So it should be perfectly fine to conjoin two noun phrases as complements of expect, and indeed it is.
Show more (2)
7. (in systemic grammar) an adjective or noun that has the same reference as either the subject (as mad in he is mad) or the object (as mad in he drove her mad or manager in they appointed him manager).
8. A group of proteins present in blood plasma and tissue fluid which combine with an antigen–antibody complex to bring about the lysis of foreign cells.
If the HLA antigen and specific antibody bind, and complement is added, the cells in that well will be killed.
Show more (2)
Verb
1. Contribute extra features to (someone or something) in such a way as to improve or emphasize their qualities.
Its old fashioned appearance is complemented by modern design extras.
Show more (2)
2. Add to or make complete.
A home exercise programme can usefully complement the organised sessions.
Show more (2)
Usage
1. Complement and compliment (together with related words such as complementary and complimentary) are frequently confused. They are pronounced in the same way but have quite different meanings: as a verb complement means ‘add to something in a way that enhances or improves’, as in a classic blazer complements a look that's smart or casual, while compliment means ‘admire and praise someone for something’, as in he complimented her on her appearance. Complementary means ‘forming a complement or addition, completing,’ as in I purchased a suit with a complementary tie. This is often confused with complimentary, for which one sense is ‘given freely, as a courtesy’: honeymooners receive complimentary fruit and flowers
Origin
1. Late Middle English (in the sense ‘completion’): from Latin complementum, from complere ‘fill up’ (see complete). Compare with compliment.
Image
Practice pronunciation
Learning goes hand in hand
✖
News
No result
