complex

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>

Examples of COMPLEX

1. She has a complex about her appearance.
2. 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

Related Words: building, edifice; institute, institution; business, company, concern, outfit

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Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

Rhymes with COMPLEX

annex, apex, codex, convex, cortex, culex, desex, duplex, DX, fourplex, ibex, ilex, index, Kleenex, latex, mirex, murex, MX, narthex, perplex, Perspex, phone sex, pollex, Pyrex, reflex, Rx, safe sex, scolex, silex, silvex, simplex, spandex, telex, Tex-Mex, triplex, unsex, vertex, vortex