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compliment

com·pli·ment [ kómpləmənt ]


noun  (plural com·pli·ments)
Definition:
 
1. statement of praise: something said to express praise or approval

2. gesture of respect or honor: something done to show respect or honor



plural noun com·pli·ments [ kómpləmənt ] 
Definition:
 
respect: expressions of respect and good wishes
My compliments to the chef.



transitive verb  (past and past participle com·pli·ment·ed, present participle com·pli·ment·ing, 3rd person present singular com·pli·ments)
Definition:
 
1. praise somebody: to express praise or approval of somebody

2. give something to somebody: to give somebody a gift as a sign of respect or honor

3. congratulate somebody: to express congratulations to somebody

[Mid-17th century. Via French< Italian complimento< Latin complementum (see complement)]

return the compliment to respond to a gesture that somebody has made with a similar gesture


Word Usage

See complement.

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