com|ple|ment

com|ple|ment
com|ple|ment «noun. KOM pluh muhnt; verb. KOM pluh|mehnt», noun, verb.
–n.
1. something that completes or makes perfect: »

The teacher considers homework a necessary complement to classroom work. Philosophy is a good complement of scientific studies.

2. the number required to complete or make perfect: »

The ship now had its full complement of men, and no more could be taken on.

3. full quantity or amount: »

He had the usual complement of eyes and ears (Francis Parkman).

4. a word or group of words completing a predicate. In “The man is good,” good is a complement.
5. each of two parts which complete each other.
6. Mathematics. a) the amount needed to make an angle or an arc equal to 90 degrees; the angle or arc by which a given angle or arc is less than 90 degrees. b) those members of a set that do not belong to a subset. Example: In the set (1, 2, 3, 4) the complement of subset (2, 4) is (1,3).
7. Music. the interval which added to a given interval completes an octave.
8. Medicine. a substance or group of substances found in normal blood serum and protoplasm which combines with antibodies to destroy bacteria and other foreign bodies.
–v.t.
1. to supply a lack of any kind; complete: »

My fishing poles complement his hooks and lines, so that together we can go fishing. The two brothers complemented each other; one was impulsive and outspoken, the other, cautious and reticent.

2. Obsolete. to praise; commend; flatter.
–v.i.
Obsolete. to behave with courtesy or ceremony.
╂[< Latin complēmentum < complēre; see etym. under complete (Cf. ↑complete). See etym. of doublet compliment. (Cf. ↑compliment)]
Synonym Study transitive verb.1 Complement, supplement mean to complete. Complement means to complete by supplying something that is missing but necessary to make a perfect whole: »

The two texts complement each other; what is sketchily dealt with in either one is treated fully in the other.

Supplement means to add something to make better or bigger or richer in some way: »

Outside reading supplements a person's education.

Usage complement, compliment. Complement means something that completes or makes perfect, or a number required to fill (related to complete): (Cf. ↑complete) »

She has her full complement of good looks.

Compliment has to do with politeness and praise: »

Their progress deserved his compliment.


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • com — com·bas·sou; com·bat·ive; com·bat·ive·ly; com·bat·ive·ness; com·ba·tiv·i·ty; com·bin·abil·i·ty; com·bin·able; com·bi·na·tion·al; com·bi·na·tion·al·ism; com·bi·na·tive; com·bi·na·to·ry; com·bined; com·bine·ment; com·bin·er; com·bi·net; com·bite;… …   English syllables

  • ple — ple·iad; ple·i·dae; ple·na·ri·ly; ple·nar·ty; ple·na·ry; ple·ne; ple·ni·lune; ple·nip·o·tence; ple·nip·o·tent; ple·nist; ple·o·chro·ic; ple·och·ro·ism; ple·och·ro·ous; ple·o·cy·to·sis; ple·o·dont; ple·o·mas·tia; ple·o·ma·zia; ple·o·me·tro·sis;… …   English syllables

  • ment — abate·ment; al·i·ment; ap·prove·ment; aug·ment; ce·ment; com·ment; com·part·ment; com·ple·ment; com·pli·ment; con·sign·ment; de·ment; de·part·ment; dis·place·ment; doc·u·ment; el·e·ment; en·ti·tle·ment; en·vi·ron·ment; es·tab·lish·ment;… …   English syllables

  • complement — com·ple·ment …   English syllables

  • complement — com|ple|ment1 [ kamplə,ment ] verb transitive * 1. ) to combine well with something, often something that has different qualities: The plants are chosen to complement each other. a simple sweater that was perfectly complemented by elegant jewelry …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • complement — com•ple•ment n. [[t]ˈkɒm plə mənt[/t]] v. [[t] ˌmɛnt[/t]] n. 1) something that completes or makes perfect: A good wine is a complement to a good meal[/ex] 2) the quantity or amount that completes anything: We now have a full complement of bridge… …   From formal English to slang

  • complement — com|ple|ment Mot Agut Nom masculí …   Diccionari Català-Català

  • complement — Ehrlich term for the thermolabile substance, normally present in serum, that is destructive to certain bacteria and other cells sensitized by a specific c. fixing antibody. C. is a group of at least 20 distinct serum proteins, the …   Medical dictionary

  • anticomplement — A substance that combines with a complement component and neutralizes its action by preventing its union with an antibody. SYN: antialexin. * * * an·ti·com·ple·ment käm plə mənt n a substance that interferes with the activity of complement * * *… …   Medical dictionary

  • Arithmetical complement of a number — Complement Com ple*ment, n. [L. complementun: cf. F. compl[ e]ment. See {Complete}, v. t., and cf. {Compliment}.] 1. That which fills up or completes; the quantity or number required to fill a thing or make it complete. [1913 Webster] 2. That… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”