Definition of 'complement'

Word Frequency

complement

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense complements, present participle complementing , past tense, past participle complemented pronunciation note: The verb is pronounced (kɒmplɪment ). The noun is pronounced (kɒmplɪmənt ).

1. verb

If one thing complements another, it goes well with the other thing and makes its good qualities more noticeable.

Nutmeg, parsley and cider all complement the flavour of these beans well. [VERB noun]

Synonyms: enhance, complete, improve, boost More Synonyms of complement

2. verb

If people or things complement each other, they are different or do something different, which makes them a good combination.

There will be a written examination to complement the practical test. [VERB noun]

We complement one another perfectly. [VERB noun]

3. countable noun [usually singular]

Something that is a complement to something else complements it.

The green wallpaper is the perfect complement to the old pine of the dresser. [+ to]

Political knowledge is a necessary complement to science in this situation.

Synonyms: accompaniment, companion, accessory, completion More Synonyms of complement

4. countable noun [usually singular]

The complement of things or people that something has is the number of things or people that it normally has, which enable it to function properly.

[formal]

Each ship had a complement of around a dozen officers and 250 men. [+ of]

Not one house on the Close still had its full complement of windows.

Synonyms: total, capacity, quota, aggregate More Synonyms of complement

5. countable noun

In grammar, the complement of a link verb is an adjective group or noun group which comes after the verb and describes or identifies the subject. For example, in the sentence 'They felt very tired', 'very tired' is the complement. In 'They were students', 'students' is the complement.

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The subject complement is a word or phrase that tells us more about the subject.
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Video: pronunciation of
complement

complement in British English

noun (ˈkɒmplɪmənt )

a person or thing that completes something

one of two parts that make up a whole or complete each other

a complete amount, number, etc (often in the phrase full complement)

the officers and crew needed to man a ship

5. grammar

a noun phrase that follows a copula or similar verb, as for example an idiot in the sentence He is an idiot

a clause that serves as the subject or direct object of a verb or the direct object of a preposition, as for example that he would be early in the sentence I hoped that he would be early

6. mathematics

the angle that, when added to a specified angle, produces a right angle

7. logic, mathematics

the class of all things, or of all members of a given universe of discourse, that are not members of a given set

8. music

the inverted form of an interval that, when added to the interval, completes the octave

the sixth is the complement of the third

9. immunology

a group of proteins in the blood serum that, when activated by antibodies, causes destruction of alien cells, such as bacteria

verb (ˈkɒmplɪˌmɛnt )

10. (transitive)

to add to, make complete, or form a complement to

▶ USAGE Avoid confusion with compliment

Word origin

C14: from Latin complēmentum, from complēre to fill up, from com- (intensive) + plēre to fill

Word Frequency

complement in American English

(ˈkɑmpləmənt ; for v .; ˈkɑmpləˌmɛnt )

noun

that which completes or brings to perfection

the amount or number needed to fill or complete

a complete set; entirety

something added to complete a whole; either of two parts that complete each other

5. Grammar

a word or group of words that, with the verb, completes the meaning and syntactic structure of the predicate ( Ex.: foreman in “make him foreman,” paid in “he expects to get paid”)

6. Immunology

a complex series of proteins in the blood plasma that acts with specific antibodies to destroy corresponding antigens, as bacteria or foreign proteins

7. Ancient Mathematics

the number of degrees that must be added to a given angle or arc to make it equal 90 degrees

the subset which must be added to any given subset to yield the original set

8. Music

the difference between a given interval and the complete octave

9. Nautical

all of a ship's personnel, including the officers, required to operate a ship

verb transitive

10.

to make complete; be a complement to

Word origin

ME < L complementum, that which fills up or completes < complere: see complete

Examples of 'complement' in a sentence
complement

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

They complement each other perfectly and take on any challenge.It was a surprise choice, but they complemented one another.What is the shape of an indifference curve for two goods that are perfect complements?You have a better chance of winning a football match if you have a full complement.We work well together and complement each other.These two herbs complement each other very well. Try to pick ones that complement each other.Most goods are neither perfect substitutes nor perfect complements for other goods.They were perfect foils and complements for one another.They might be unlikely bedfellows but they complement each other perfectly.