com·plex
(kəm-plĕks′, kŏm′plĕks′)adj.
1.
a. Consisting of interconnected or interwoven parts; composite: complex equipment with multiple components.
b. Composed of two or more units: a complex carbohydrate.
2. Difficult to understand for being intricate or involved; complicated: a complex problem.
3. Grammar
a. Consisting of at least one bound form. Used of a word.
b. Consisting of an independent clause and at least one other independent or dependent clause. Used of a sentence.
n. (kŏm′plĕks′)
1. A whole composed of interconnected or interwoven parts: a complex of cities and suburbs; the military-industrial complex.
2. A building or group of buildings used for a single purpose: a sports complex.
3. In psychoanalysis, a group of related, often repressed ideas and impulses that compel characteristic or habitual patterns of thought, feelings, and behavior.
4. An exaggerated or obsessive concern or fear: has a complex about his weight.
5. Medicine The combination of factors, symptoms, or signs of a disease or disorder that forms a syndrome.
[Latin complexus, past participle of complectī, to entwine; see complect.]
com·plex′ly adv.
com·plex′ness n.
Synonyms: complex, complicated, intricate, involved, tangled
These adjectives mean having parts so interconnected as to hamper comprehension or perception of the whole. Complex implies a combination of many interwoven parts: The composer transformed a simple folk tune into a complex set of variations. Complicated stresses a relationship of parts that affect each other in elaborate, often obscure ways: The party's complicated platform confused many voters. Intricate refers to a pattern of intertwining parts that is difficult to follow or analyze: "No one could soar into a more intricate labyrinth of refined phraseology" (Anthony Trollope).
Involved implies a close but confusing interconnection between many different parts: The movie's plot was criticized as being too involved. Tangled strongly suggests the random twisting of many parts: "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, / When first we practice to deceive!" (Sir Walter Scott).
These adjectives mean having parts so interconnected as to hamper comprehension or perception of the whole. Complex implies a combination of many interwoven parts: The composer transformed a simple folk tune into a complex set of variations. Complicated stresses a relationship of parts that affect each other in elaborate, often obscure ways: The party's complicated platform confused many voters. Intricate refers to a pattern of intertwining parts that is difficult to follow or analyze: "No one could soar into a more intricate labyrinth of refined phraseology" (Anthony Trollope).
Involved implies a close but confusing interconnection between many different parts: The movie's plot was criticized as being too involved. Tangled strongly suggests the random twisting of many parts: "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, / When first we practice to deceive!" (Sir Walter Scott).
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
complex
(ˈkɒmplɛks)adj
1. made up of various interconnected parts; composite
2. (of thoughts, writing, etc) intricate or involved
3. (Grammar) grammar
a. (of a word) containing at least one bound form
b. (of a noun phrase) containing both a lexical noun and an embedded clause, as for example the italicized parts of the following sentence: I didn't know the man who served me
c. (of a sentence) formed by subordination of one clause to another
4. (Mathematics) maths of or involving one or more complex numbers
n
5. a whole made up of interconnected or related parts: a building complex.
6. (Psychoanalysis) psychoanal a group of emotional ideas or impulses that have been banished from the conscious mind but that continue to influence a person's behaviour
7. (Psychology) informal an obsession or excessive fear: he's got a complex about cats.
8. (Chemistry) Also called: coordination compound a chemical compound in which molecules, groups, or ions are attached to a central metal atom, esp a transition metal atom, by coordinate bonds
9. (Chemistry) any chemical compound in which one molecule is linked to another by a coordinate bond
[C17: from Latin complexus, from complectī to entwine, from com- together + plectere to braid]
ˈcomplexly adv
ˈcomplexness n
Usage: Complex is sometimes wrongly used where complicated is meant. Complex is properly used to say only that something consists of several parts. It should not be used to say that, because something consists of many parts, it is difficult to understand or analyse
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
com•plex
(adj., v. kəmˈplɛks, ˈkɒm plɛks; n. ˈkɒm plɛks)adj.
1. composed of many interconnected parts; compound; composite: a complex system.
2. characterized by a complicated or involved arrangement of parts, units, etc.: complex machinery.
3. so complicated or intricate as to be hard to understand or deal with: a complex problem.
4. (of a word) consisting of two or more parts, at least one of which is a bound form, as childish, which consists of the word child and the bound form -ish.
5. pertaining to or using complex numbers: complex methods; complex vector space.
n. 6. an often intricate or complicated association or assemblage of related things, parts, units, etc., forming a whole: an apartment complex.
7. a cluster of interrelated, emotion-charged ideas, desires, and impulses that may be wholly or partly suppressed but influence attitudes, associations, and behavior.
8. an obsessive notion or concern.
9. Also called coordination compound. a chemical compound in which independently existing molecules or ions of a nonmetal form coordinate bonds with a metal atom or ion.Compare ligand (def. 2).
10. an entity composed of molecules in which the constituents maintain much of their chemical identity: receptor-hormone complex.
v.t. 11. Chem. to form a complex with.
v.i. 12. Chem. to form a complex.
[1645–55; (adj.) < Latin complexus, past participle of complectī, complectere to embrace, encompass, include]
com•plex′ly, adv.
com•plex′ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Complex
an object or framework made up from parts; a group of buildings forming part of related whole.Examples: complex of doctrine, 1862; of fluid atoms, 1652; of planets, 1672; of psychoanalysts—Lipton, 1970.
Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
complex
An idea which is partly or wholly repressed, but which determines your opinion of yourself, may produce a complex. A woman may not consciously recall being teased as a child for being fat, for instance, but the idea may remain in her unconscious and as a result she may develop a complex about her appearance, whatever her adult build.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Noun | 1. |  complex - a conceptual whole made up of complicated and related parts; "the complex of shopping malls, houses, and roads created a new town"whole - all of something including all its component elements or parts; "Europe considered as a whole"; "the whole of American literature" hybrid - a composite of mixed origin; "the vice-presidency is a hybrid of administrative and legislative offices" syndrome - a complex of concurrent things; "every word has a syndrome of meanings" |
| 2. | complex - a compound described in terms of the central atom to which other atoms are bound or coordinated hydrochloride - a complex consisting of an organic base in association with hydrogen chloride chemical compound, compound - (chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight | |
| 3. | complex - (psychoanalysis) a combination of emotions and impulses that have been rejected from awareness but still influence a person's behavior feeling - the experiencing of affective and emotional states; "she had a feeling of euphoria"; "he had terrible feelings of guilt"; "I disliked him and the feeling was mutual" depth psychology, psychoanalysis, analysis - a set of techniques for exploring underlying motives and a method of treating various mental disorders; based on the theories of Sigmund Freud; "his physician recommended psychoanalysis" Oedipal complex, Oedipus complex - a complex of males; desire to possess the mother sexually and to exclude the father; said to be a source of personality disorders if unresolved Electra complex - a complex of females; sexual attraction to the father inferiority complex - a sense of personal inferiority arising from conflict between the desire to be noticed and the fear of being humiliated | |
| 4. |  complex - a whole structure (as a building) made up of interconnected or related structurescollege - a complex of buildings in which an institution of higher education is housed industrial plant, plant, works - buildings for carrying on industrial labor; "they built a large plant to manufacture automobiles" ribbon development - building complex in a continuous row along a road structure, construction - a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts; "the structure consisted of a series of arches"; "she wore her hair in an amazing construction of whirls and ribbons" | |
| Adj. | 1. | complex - complicated in structure; consisting of interconnected parts; "a complex set of variations based on a simple folk melody"; "a complex mass of diverse laws and customs" difficult, hard - not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure; "a difficult task"; "nesting places on the cliffs are difficult of access"; "difficult times"; "why is it so hard for you to keep a secret?" compound - composed of more than one part; "compound leaves are composed of several lobes; "compound flower heads" simple - having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved; "a simple problem"; "simple mechanisms"; "a simple design"; "a simple substance" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
complex
adjective
1. compound, compounded, multiple, composite, manifold, heterogeneous, multifarious His complex compositions are built up of many overlapping layers.
2. complicated, difficult, involved, mixed, elaborate, tangled, mingled, intricate, tortuous, convoluted, knotty, labyrinthine, circuitous in-depth coverage of today's complex issues
complicated clear, easy, simple, obvious, straightforward, elementary, uncomplicated, easy-peasy (slang)
complicated clear, easy, simple, obvious, straightforward, elementary, uncomplicated, easy-peasy (slang)
noun
1. structure, system, scheme, network, organization, aggregate, composite, synthesis Our philosophy is a complex of many tightly interrelated ideas.
2. (Informal) obsession, preoccupation, phobia, fixation, fixed idea, idée fixe (French) I have never had a complex about my weight.
Usage: Although complex and complicated are close in meaning, care should be taken when using one as a synonym of the other. Complex should be used to say that something consists of several parts rather than that it is difficult to understand, analyse, or deal with, which is what complicated inherently means. In the following real example a clear distinction is made between the two words: the British benefits system is phenomenally complex and is administered by a complicated range of agencies.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
complex
adjective2. Difficult to understand because of intricacy:
1. A usually large entity composed of interconnected parts:
2. A center of organization, supply, or activity:
Military: installation.
3. An exaggerated concern:
Informal: hang-up.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
komplexsložitýkomplexnísloženýcelek
komplekskompliceretsammensatvanskelig
kompleks
monimutkainen-keskuskompleksi
komplekssložen
kombinátkomplex
geîhnútur, duldmargbrotinn, flókinnsamstæîa
複合の複合体
복잡한복합체
kompleksassudėtingassudėtingas dalykassudėtingumassudėtinis
kompleksskomplicētssaliktssarežģīts
complex
komplex
komplekszapleten
komplexkomplicerad
คอมเพล็กซ์ซับซ้อน
phức tạptòa phức hợp
complex
[ˈkɒmpleks]A. ADJ (= difficult) → complejo, complicado; (= consisting of different parts) → complejo (Ling) → compuesto
B. N
1. (Psych) → complejo m
inferiority/Oedipus complex → complejo m de inferioridad/Edipo
he's got a complex about his nose → está acomplejado por su nariz, su nariz lo acompleja
inferiority/Oedipus complex → complejo m de inferioridad/Edipo
he's got a complex about his nose → está acomplejado por su nariz, su nariz lo acompleja
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
complex
adj
→ komplex; person, mind, issue, question, problem, poem also → vielschichtig; theory, task, system also, machine, pattern → differenziert, kompliziert; situation also, paragraph → verwickelt, kompliziert
(Gram) a complex sentence → ein Satzgefüge nt
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
complex
[ˈkɒmplɛks]1. adj (all senses) → complesso/a
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
complex
(ˈkompleks) , ((American) kəmˈpleks) adjective1. composed of many parts. a complex piece of machinery.
2. complicated or difficult. a complex problem.
(ˈkompleks) noun1. something made up of many different pieces. The leisure complex will include a swimming-pool, tennis courts, a library etc.
2. (often used loosely) an abnormal mental state caused by experiences in one's past which affect one's behaviour. She has a complex about her weight; inferiority complex.
complexity (kəmˈpleksəti) – plural comˈplexities – noun1. the quality of being complex.
2. something complex.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
complex
→ مُرَكَّب, مُرَكَّب komplex, složitý kompleks Komplex σύμπλεγμα, σύνθετος complejo -keskus, monimutkainen complexe kompleks, složen complesso 複合の, 複合体 복잡한, 복합체 complex kompleks, sammensatt kompleks, złożony complexo комплекс, комплексный komplex, komplicerad คอมเพล็กซ์, ซับซ้อน karmaşık, kompleks phức tạp, tòa phức hợp 复杂的, 联合体Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
com·plex
n. complejo, serie de procesos mentales interrelacionados que afectan la conducta y la personalidad;
castration ___ → ___ de castración;
guilt ___ → ___ de culpa;
inferiority ___ → ___ de inferioridad;
Electra's ___ → ___ de Electra;
Oedipus ___ → ___ de Edipo;
a. complejo-a; complicado-a.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
complex
n complejo; inferiority — complejo de inferioridad; Mycobacterium avium — (MAC) complejo Mycobacterium avium; Oedipus — complejo de Edipo; superiority — complejo de superioridadEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.