Printer Friendly
The Free Dictionary
988,606,930 visitors served.
?
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

complement

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.04 sec.
com·ple·ment  (kmpl-mnt)
n.
1.
a. Something that completes, makes up a whole, or brings to perfection.
b. The quantity or number needed to make up a whole: shelves with a full complement of books.
c. Either of two parts that complete the whole or mutually complete each other.
2. An angle related to another so that the sum of their measures is 90°.
3. Grammar A word or words used after a verb to complete a predicate construction; for example, the phrase to eat ice cream in We like to eat ice cream.
4. Music An interval that completes an octave when added to a given interval.
5. The full crew of officers and enlisted personnel required to run a ship.
6. Immunology A complex system of proteins found in normal blood plasma that combines with antibodies to destroy pathogenic bacteria and other foreign cells. Also called alexin.
7. Mathematics & Logic For a universal set, the set of all elements in the set that are not in a specified subset.
8. A complementary color.
tr.v. (-mnt) com·ple·ment·ed, com·ple·ment·ing, com·ple·ments
To serve as a complement to: Roses in a silver bowl complement the handsome cherry table.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin complmentum, from complre, to fill out; see complete.]
Usage Note: Complement and compliment, though quite distinct in meaning, are sometimes confused because they are pronounced the same. As a noun, complement means "something that completes or brings to perfection" (The antique silver was a complement to the beautifully set table); used as a verb it means "to serve as a complement to." The noun compliment means "an expression or act of courtesy or praise" (They gave us a compliment on our beautifully set table), while the verb means "to pay a compliment to."

complement
Noun
1. a person or thing that completes something
2. a complete amount or number: a full complement of staff nurses and care assistants
3. the officers and crew needed to man a ship
4. Grammar a word or words added to the verb to complete the meaning of the predicate in a sentence, as a fool in He is a fool or that he would come in I hoped that he would come
5. Maths the angle that when added to a specified angle produces a right angle
Verb
to complete or form a complement to [Latin com- (intensive) + plere to fill]
USAGE: Avoid confusion with compliment.

complement  (kmpl-mnt)
1. A group of proteins in blood serum that interact systematically as part of the body's immune response to destroy disease-causing antigens, especially bacteria. Complement proteins interact with antibodies and other chemical substances to cause the disintegration of foreign cells and enhance other immune functions such as phagocytosis.
2. A complementary color.

Complement the full amount; a set; the total number of personnel of a ship or military establishment; a cargo; the amount needed to fill a conveyance.
Example: complement of cloves, 1697.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.complement - a word or phrase used to complete a grammatical construction
grammatical construction, construction, expression - a group of words that form a constituent of a sentence and are considered as a single unit; "I concluded from his awkward constructions that he was a foreigner"
2.complement - a complete number or quantity; "a full complement"
count - the total number counted; "a blood count"
3.complement - number needed to make up a whole force; "a full complement of workers"
manpower, men, work force, workforce, hands - the force of workers available
ship's company, company - crew of a ship including the officers; the whole force or personnel of a ship
4.complement - something added to complete or embellish or make perfect; "a fine wine is a perfect complement to the dinner"; "wild rice was served as an accompaniment to the main dish"
adjunct - something added to another thing but not an essential part of it
5.complement - one of a series of enzymes in the blood serum that are part of the immune response
immune reaction, immune response, immunologic response - a bodily defense reaction that recognizes an invading substance (an antigen: such as a virus or fungus or bacteria or transplanted organ) and produces antibodies specific against that antigen
enzyme - any of several complex proteins that are produced by cells and act as catalysts in specific biochemical reactions
6.complement - either of two parts that mutually complete each other
counterpart, opposite number, vis-a-vis - a person or thing having the same function or characteristics as another
Verb1.complement - make complete or perfect; supply what is wanting or form the complement to; "I need some pepper to complement the sweet touch in the soup"
balance, equilibrise, equilibrize, equilibrate - bring into balance or equilibrium; "She has to balance work and her domestic duties"; "balance the two weights"

complement
verb 1. enhance, complete, improve, boost, crown, add to, set off, heighten, augment, round off
noun 3. total, capacity, quota, aggregate, contingent, entirety
USAGE This is sometimes confused with compliment but the two words have very different meanings. As the synonyms show, the verb form of complement means `to enhance' and `to complete' something. In contrast, common synonyms of compliment as a verb are praise, commend, and flatter.
Translations
Spanish complement [ˈkɔmplɪmənt] ncomplemento (= esp ship's crew); dotación f
vt [ˈkɔmplɪmɛnt] (= enhance) → complementar

French complement [ˈkɔmplɪmənt] ncomplément m [esp of ship's crew etc]; effectif complet
vt (= enhance) → compléter

German complement [ˈkɔmplɪmənt] nErgänzung f;
(esp ship's crew) → Besatzung f
vtergänzen;
to have a full complement of ... (people) → die volle Stärke an ... dat haben;
(items) → die volle Zahl an ... dat haben

Italian complement n [ˈkɔmplɪmənt]complemento;
(especially of ship's crew etc) → effettivo
vt [ˈkɔmplɪmɛnt] (= enhance) → accompagnarsi bene a

?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
But the ship, having her full complement of seamen, spurned his suit; and not all the King his father's influence could prevail.
It appears too by his laws, that he intends to establish only a small state, as all the artificers are to belong to the public, and add nothing to the complement of citizens; but if all those who are to be employed in public works are to be the slaves of the public, it should be done in the same manner as it is at Epidamnum, and as Diophantus formerly regulated it at Athens.
There was a full complement of passengers on board, among them English, many Americans, a large number of coolies on their way to California, and several East Indian officers, who were spending their vacation in making the tour of the world.
 
Dictionary/thesaurus browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2008 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.