complement definition - Dictionary

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complement

com·ple·ment [ kómpləmənt ]

noun (plural com·ple·ments)

Definition:

1. completing part: something that completes or perfects something else

2. one of two: either of two things that form a unit

3. full quantity: a quantity of people or things that is considered complete

the full complement of warships and replenishing vessels

4. grammar sentence part: a word or group of words, excluding the verb, that complete the predicate of a sentence or clause

5. mathematics logic items excluded from subset: the elements of a set that are not included in a particular subset of that set

6. mathematics
Same as complementary angle

7. immunology group of blood proteins: a set of proteins in the bloodstream that, together with antibodies, recognize and attack foreign cells such as bacteria

8. music note interval: an interval that, when added to a given interval, equals an octave

transitive verb (past and past participle com·ple·ment·ed, present participle com·ple·ment·ing, 3rd person present singular com·ple·ments)

Definition:

complete something: to complete, perfect, or go well with something else

a light dessert that complements a rich meal

[14th century. < Latin complementum "something that fills up" < complere (see complete)]

com·ple·men·tal [ kòmplə mént'l ] adjective

com·ple·men·tal·ly [ kòmplə mént'lee ] adverb

Word Usage


	complement or compliment? The two words are close in spelling but their meanings are quite different. A complement is something added to perfect a thing and make it complete, whereas a compliment is an expression of praise: A fine wine is the perfect complement to good cooking.The cook received many compliments from the guests that evening. Both words are also used as verbs, and both have adjectival forms: complementary and complimentary. Complimentary has the special meaning "given free"; and so a complimentary copy of a book is one given without charge, whereas a complementary copy is one that completes a set of books.

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