- com|plex´ness
- com|plex «adjective, verb. kuhm PLEHKS, KOM plehks; noun. KOM plehks», adjective, noun, verb.–adj.1. made up of a number of parts: »
A watch is a complex device. Hemoglobin is a complex chemical substance in the blood.
SYNONYM(S): composite, compound.2. hard to understand; complicated: »The instructions for building the radio were so complex we could not follow them.
SYNONYM(S): involved, intricate.–n.1. a) a complicated whole: »The assembly line handled a complex of 200 parts.
b) a group of related or connected buildings, structures, or units: »The four-building complex will include a library, museum, and an auditorium and planetarium (New York Times).
2. Psychology. an idea or group of repressed ideas associated with a past emotional disturbance so as to influence a person's present behavior to a great or excessive degree: »a complex of inferiority. Complexes are not to be regarded as distinctly abnormal phenomena, since they are a component of every individual's mental life (Strecker and Ebaugh).
3. a strong prejudice; unreasonable dislike or fear: »She has a complex about snakes.
–v.t.1. to chelate: »Extra chemicals are sometimes prescribed to complex dissolved iron (New Scientist).
2. to combine into a complex whole; complicate: »Mere murder got complexed with wile (Robert Browning).
╂[< Latin complexus, past participle of complectī comprise; (literally) embrace < com- together + plectere twine]–com|plex´ly, adverb.–com|plex´ness, noun.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.
