complex
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1com·plex
noun \ˈkäm-ˌpleks\Definition of COMPLEX
1
: a whole made up of complicated or interrelated parts <a complex of welfare programs> <the military-industrial complex>
2
a : a group of culture traits relating to a single activity (as hunting), process (as use of flint), or culture unit b (1) : a group of repressed desires and memories that exerts a dominating influence upon the personality (2) : an exaggerated reaction to or preoccupation with a subject or situation c : a group of obviously related units of which the degree and nature of the relationship is imperfectly known d : the sum of factors (as symptoms) characterizing a disease or condition
3
: a chemical association of two or more species (as ions or molecules) joined usually by weak electrostatic bonds rather than covalent bonds
4
: a building or group of buildings housing related units <an apartment complex> <a sports complex>
See Examples of COMPLEX
- She has a complex about her appearance.
- a complex of protein molecules
Origin of COMPLEX
Late Latin complexus totality, from Latin, embrace, from complecti
First Known Use: 1643
Related to COMPLEX
- Synonyms
- facility, establishment, installation
Other Chemical Engineering Terms
Rhymes with COMPLEX
2com·plex
adjective \käm-ˈpleks, kəm-ˈ, ˈkäm-ˌ\Definition of COMPLEX
1
2
: hard to separate, analyze, or solve
3
: of, concerned with, being, or containing complex numbers <a complex root> <complex analysis>
— com·plex·ly adverb
— com·plex·ness noun
Examples of COMPLEX
- The house's wiring is complex.
- The situation is more complex than you realize.
Origin of COMPLEX
Latin complexus, past participle of complecti to embrace, comprise (a multitude of objects), from com- + plectere to braid — more at ply
First Known Use: 1645
Related to COMPLEX
- Synonyms
- baroque, byzantine, complicate, complicated, convoluted, daedal, elaborate, intricate, involute, involved, knotty, labyrinthian, labyrinthine, sophisticated, tangled
- Antonyms
- noncomplex, noncomplicated, plain, simple, uncomplicated
Synonym Discussion of COMPLEX
complex, complicated, intricate, involved, knotty mean having confusingly interrelated parts. complex suggests the unavoidable result of a necessary combining and does not imply a fault or failure <a complex recipe>. complicated applies to what offers great difficulty in understanding, solving, or explaining <complicated legal procedures>. intricate suggests such interlacing of parts as to make it nearly impossible to follow or grasp them separately <an intricate web of deceit>. involved implies extreme complication and often disorder <a rambling, involved explanation>. knotty suggests complication and entanglement that make solution or understanding improbable <knotty ethical questions>.
3com·plex
transitive verb \same as 2\Definition of COMPLEX
1
: to make complex or into a complex
Examples of COMPLEX
- <there's no need to complex what should be a simple process for obtaining a building permit>
First Known Use of COMPLEX
1658
Related to COMPLEX
- Synonyms
- complicate, complexify, embarrass, entangle, perplex, sophisticate
- Antonyms
- simplify, streamline
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