complex
composed of many interconnected parts; compound; composite: a complex highway system.
characterized by a very complicated or involved arrangement of parts, units, etc.: complex machinery.
so complicated or intricate as to be hard to understand or deal with: a complex problem.
Grammar.
(of a word) consisting of two parts, at least one of which is a bound form, as childish, which consists of the word child and the bound form -ish.
Mathematics. pertaining to or using complex numbers: complex methods; complex vector space.
an intricate or complicated association or assemblage of related things, parts, units, etc.: the entire complex of our educational system; an apartment complex.
Psychology. a system of interrelated, emotion-charged ideas, feelings, memories, and impulses that is usually repressed and that gives rise to abnormal or pathological behavior.
a fixed idea; an obsessive notion.
Mathematics.
an arbitrary set of elements of a group.
a collection of simplexes having specified properties.
Also called coordination compound. Chemistry. a compound in which independently existing molecules or ions of a nonmetal (complexing agent ) form coordinate bonds with a metal atom or ion.: Compare ligand (def. 2).
Biochemistry. an entity composed of molecules in which the constituents maintain much of their chemical identity: receptor-hormone complex, enzyme-substrate complex.
Chemistry. to form a complex with.
Chemistry. to form a complex.
Origin of complex
1Other words for complex
Opposites for complex
Other words from complex
- com·plex·ly, adverb
- com·plex·ness, noun
- o·ver·com·plex, adjective
- qua·si-com·plex, adjective
- qua·si-com·plex·ly, adverb
- su·per·com·plex, adjective
- un·com·plex, adjective
- un·com·plex·ly, adverb
- un·com·plex·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use complex in a sentence
The meat is great out of the oven and gets even better if you let it sit in the fridge for several weeks, up to two months — its taste becomes even more complex.
Turn to duck confit for a holiday treat with long-lasting benefits | Mary Beth Albright | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostJust in November, 15 people who have spent time in the media conglomerate’s CBS Broadcast Center complex have tested positive, according to emails sent to employees and reviewed by The Washington Post.
Despite precautions, CBS headquarters reports 15 coronavirus cases amid nationwide surge | Jeremy Barr | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostThe game’s story, though, could have revealed more of Hyrule's strange and complex history.
‘Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity’: A semi-satisfying new piece of the ‘Zelda’ universe | Harold Goldberg | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostGlenn was a complex man from a complex age, far deeper and more interesting than this book suggests.
Another look at John Glenn through a heroic lens | Francis French | November 20, 2020 | Washington Post“Most of our complex brain functions happen in the prefrontal cortex,” says Reichelt.
Warning! Junk foods can harm a teen’s brain | Sharon Oosthoek | November 19, 2020 | Science News For Students
"So it is," said Mrs. Neff, struggling toward him through a sort of panic of complexly moving groups.
What Will People Say? | Rupert HughesFor a while they had proved fascinating, but a man does not want to have a cartoon, however complexly beautiful, for a wife.
We Can't Have Everything | Rupert HughesStaniford complexly raged to see that the anxiety about Hicks had blighted the joy of the day for her.
The Lady of the Aroostook | William Dean HowellsThese distinctive stories will be found to be complexly interwoven with all the matters discussed in this address.
The Evolution of the Dragon | G. Elliot SmithThere are indications, however, that the leaves were large and complexly divided.
Ancient Plants | Marie C. Stopes
British Dictionary definitions for complex
/ (ˈkɒmplɛks) /
made up of various interconnected parts; composite
(of thoughts, writing, etc) intricate or involved
grammar
(of a word) containing at least one bound form
(of a noun phrase) containing both a lexical noun and an embedded clause, as for example the italicized parts of the following sentence: I didn't know the man who served me
(of a sentence) formed by subordination of one clause to another
maths of or involving one or more complex numbers
a whole made up of interconnected or related parts: a building complex
psychoanal a group of emotional ideas or impulses that have been banished from the conscious mind but that continue to influence a person's behaviour
informal an obsession or excessive fear: he's got a complex about cats
Also called: coordination compound a chemical compound in which molecules, groups, or ions are attached to a central metal atom, esp a transition metal atom, by coordinate bonds
any chemical compound in which one molecule is linked to another by a coordinate bond
Origin of complex
1usage For complex
Derived forms of complex
- complexly, adverb
- complexness, noun
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
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