complexion

or com·plec·tion

[ kuhm-plek-shuhn ]
See synonyms for complexion on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the natural color, texture, and appearance of the skin, especially of the face: a clear, smooth, rosy complexion.

  2. appearance; aspect; character: His confession put a different complexion on things.

  1. viewpoint, attitude, or conviction: one's political complexion.

  2. (in old physiology) constitution or nature of body and mind, regarded as the result of certain combined qualities.

  3. Obsolete. nature; disposition; temperament.

Origin of complexion

1
1300–50; Middle English <Medieval Latin complexiōn- (stem of complexiō) constitution, temperament, Latin: combination, group, literally, the act of embracing. See complex, -ion

Other words from complexion

  • com·plex·ion·al, adjective
  • com·plex·ion·al·ly, adverb

Words Nearby complexion

Other definitions for complex ion (2 of 2)

complex ion

nounChemistry.
  1. a charged complex.: Compare complex (def. 10).

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use complexion in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for complexion

complexion

/ (kəmˈplɛkʃən) /


noun
  1. the colour and general appearance of a person's skin, esp of the face

  2. aspect, character, or nature: the general complexion of a nation's finances

  1. obsolete

    • the temperament of a person

    • the temperature and general appearance of the body

Origin of complexion

1
C14: from medical Latin complexiō one's bodily characteristics, from Latin: a combination, from complectī to embrace; see complex

Derived forms of complexion

  • complexional, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012