compliment
Definitions
noun
- a remark or act expressing respect, admiration, etc
- (usually plural) a greeting of respect or regard
verb
(tr)- to express admiration of; congratulate or commend
- to express or show respect or regard for, esp by a gift
Word Origin
C17: from French, from Italian complimento, from Spanish cumplimiento, from cumplir to complete, do what is fitting, be politeSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
praise,
flatter,
salute,
congratulate,
pay tribute to
commend,
laud,
extol,
crack up,
pat on the back,
sing the praises of wax lyrical about
big up,
felicitate,
speak highly of
Translations
- British English:
compliment
A compliment is a polite remark that you say to someone to show that you like their appearance, appreciate their qualities, or approve of what they have done.You can do no harm by paying a woman compliments.ˈkɒmplɪˌmɛnt NOUN You can do no harm by paying a woman compliments. - Spanish:
halago
nm
- French:
compliment
nm
- German:
Kompliment
nnt
- Chinese: 称赞 n
- Arabic: مُجَامَلَة n
- Portuguese: cumprimento nm
- Russian: комплимент nm
- Croatian: kompliment nm
- Czech: kompliment nm
- Danish: kompliment nnt
- Dutch: compliment nnt
- Finnish: kohteliaisuus n
- Greek: φιλοφρόνηση nf
- Italian: complimento nm
- Japanese: ほめことば n
- Korean: 칭찬 n
- Norwegian: kompliment nnt
- Polish: komplement nm
- Brazilian Portuguese: cumprimento nm
- European Spanish:
halago
nm
- Swedish: komplimang nutr
- Thai: คำชมเชย n
- Turkish: kompliman n
- Vietnamese: lời khen n
- British English:
compliment
If you compliment someone, you say something nice about them.They complimented me on the way I looked each time they saw me.ˈkɒmplɪment VERB They complimented me on the way I looked each time they saw me.
- Spanish:
halagar
v
- French:
complimenter
vt
- German: ein Kompliment machen v
- Chinese: 称赞 v
- Arabic: يُجَامِلُ v
- Portuguese: cumprimentar v
- Russian: делать комплимент v
- Croatian: komplimentirati v
- Czech: pochválit v chválit
- Danish: komplimentere v
- Dutch: complimenteren v
- Finnish: kehua v
- Greek: κάνω φιλοφρόνηση v
- Italian: complimentare v
- Japanese: ほめる v
- Korean: 칭찬하다 v
- Norwegian: gratulere v
- Polish: pochwalić v chwalić
- Brazilian Portuguese: cumprimentar v
- European Spanish:
halagar
v
- Swedish: ge komplimang v
- Thai: ชมเชย v
- Turkish: iltifat etmek v
- Vietnamese: khen ngợi v
Usage examples
As if he had received a personal compliment , Henry Wallbank's face turned red.
, Unreasonable Doubt (1986)The novel Delhi has been paid the ultimate compliment of flattering imitation by no less than the much-acclaimed William Dalrymple.
Outlook India (2005)He doesn't take the description as either a compliment or an insult.
New Zealand Herald (2004)Neeson believes Sarsgaard is "not bad" as a kisser, until he discovered the compliment is not reciprocated.
Belfast Telegraph (2004)She flushed at the obvious compliment , waiting patiently to be let in.
, THE TURN OF THE TIDE (2004)