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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

	competitor

	compilation

	compile

	compiler

	complacent

	complain

	complainant

	complaint

	complaisant

	compleat

	complected

	complement

	complement fixation

	complementarity

	complementary

	complementary angle

	complementary color

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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.