Go to MSN Homeencarta®
HomeEncyclopediaDictionaryAtlasK-12 SuccessCollege & Grad SchoolDegrees & TrainingQuizzesMore
Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Click to move up the list of words
complementary color
complementary DNA
complementary gene
complementary goods
complementary medicine
complementary sequence
complementation
complementizer
complete
complete blood count
complete capital market
complete metamorphosis
completely
completer
completion
completion bonding
completist
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "complete" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

complete
com·plete [ kəm plt ]


adjective 
Definition:
 
1. whole: having every necessary part or everything that is wanted
a complete set of Dickens
2. finished: having reached the normal or expected end
The washer stops when the last spin cycle is complete.
3. absolute: being the greatest degree of something
a complete waste of time
4. perfect: having all the necessary qualities or abilities for a particular role
She is the complete diplomat.
5. football successfully caught: in football, used to describe a forward pass that has been successfully caught
6. botany having all principal flower parts: describes flowers that have all the principal flower parts, which are carpels, petals, sepals, and stamens.
See also  incomplete


verb  (past and past participle com·plet·ed, present participle com·plet·ing, 3rd person present singular com·pletes)
Definition:
 
1. transitive verb make something whole: to make something whole by including every necessary part or everything that is wanted
one more goblet to complete the set
2. transitive verb finish something: to finish something or bring it to an end
You have 20 minutes to complete the quiz.
3. transitive verb accomplish something: to carry out or accomplish something
The terms of the sale have been completed.
4. transitive and intransitive verb football throw pass that is caught: in football, to throw a successfully caught forward pass
[14th century. Directly or via French< Latin completus, past participle of complere "fill up" < plere "fill"]

com·plete·ness noun
com·ple·tive adjective

complete with including a particular thing as a feature

Word History

The Latin word plere, "to fill," from which complete is derived, is also the source of English accomplish, complement, compliment, comply, deplete, expletive, implement, replete, supplement, and supply. Its Indo-European ancestor is in turn the source of English full1.
Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P)2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
Advertisement

Also on Encarta
• Important Notice: MSN Encarta to be discontinued. Learn more.
• 10 tips for building your English vocabulary
• Alternatives to the M.B.A.
• GPS for students
• Making the right college choice
• Presidential Myths Quiz
• Coffee break: Recharge your brain
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
• ApplyWise Online College Admissions Counseling
• The Princeton Review
• Tutor.com: Live Help When You Get Stuck
Also on MSN
• Peek into the world of parasites on Animal Planet
• Mom's Homeroom: Learn ways to help your kid succeed in school
• MSN Shopping: Best books for the season
• MSN Careers: Nail that job interview
• Today's news on MSNBC
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Shopping
© 2009 Microsoft