complement

plural complements

1. countableuncountableThe totality, the full amount or number which completes something.First known use 16th c.

   Some 11 members of Somerton council's complement of 15 stepped down on Tuesday.

   2009 October 30, The Guardian

   1 more example

   Queequeg sought a passage to Christian lands. But the ship, having her full complement of seamen, spurned his suit; and not all the King his father's influence could prevail.

   1851 November 14, Herman Melville, Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC

2. countableuncountablenauticalThe whole working force of a vessel.
3. countableuncountableastronomyAn angle which, together with a given angle, makes a right angle.First known use 18th c.
4. countableuncountableSomething which completes, something which combines with something else to make up a complete whole; loosely, something perceived to be a harmonious or desirable partner or addition.First known use 19th c.

   History is the complement of poetry.

   1854, James Stephen, On Desultory and Systematic Reading

   2 more examples

   It would be too much to imagine that improving stations will alone create a much needed new image in the public eye; a smartly turned out station staff is a very necessary complement to a smart station.

   1962 October, Brian Haresnape, “Focus on B.R. passenger stations”, in Modern Railways, page 255

   London's Kings Place, now one year old, established itself as a venue for imaginative programming, a complement to the evergreen Wigmore Hall.

   2009 December 13, The Guardian

5. countableuncountablegrammarA word or group of words that completes a grammatical construction in the predicate and that describes or is identified with the subject or object.First known use 19th c.

   1 more example

   Why has our grammar broken down at this point? It is not difficult to see why. For, we have failed to make any provision for the fact that only some Verbs in English (i.e. Verbs like those italicized in (5) (a), traditionally called Transitive Verbs) subcategorize ( = ‘takeʼ) an immediately following NP Complement, whereas others (such as those italicised in (5) (b), traditionally referred to as Intransitive Verbs) do not.

   1988, Andrew Radford, chapter 7, in Transformational grammar: a first course, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, page 340

6. countableuncountablebiologyA phonetic complement is a graphic element that modifies another, such as (in Linear B script) a small syllabogram that is attached to a logogram as an abbreviation of its reading (as opposed to an adjunct that abbreviates an adjective that modifies that logogram).
7. countableuncountableentertainmentAn interval which, together with the given interval, makes an octave.First known use 19th c.
8. countableuncountableengineeringThe color which, when mixed with the given color, gives black (for mixing pigments) or white (for mixing light).First known use 19th c.

   The complement of blue is orange.

9. countableuncountablemathematicsGiven two sets, the set containing one set's elements that are not members of the other set (whether a relative complement or an absolute complement).First known use 20th c.

   The complement of the odd numbers is the even numbers, relative to the natural numbers.

10. countableuncountableimmunologyOne of several blood proteins that work with antibodies during an immune response.First known use 20th c.
11. countableuncountablehuman sciencesAn expression related to some other expression such that it is true under the same conditions that make other false, and vice versa.First known use 20th c.
12. countableuncountablebusinessA voltage level with the opposite logical sense to the given one.
13. countableuncountablecomputingA bit with the opposite value to the given one; the logical complement of a number.
14. countableuncountablecomputingThe diminished radix complement of a number; the nines' complement of a decimal number; the ones' complement of a binary number.

    The complement of 01100101#95;2 is 10011010#95;2.

15. countableuncountablecomputingThe radix complement of a number; the two's complement of a binary number.

    The complement of 01100101#95;2 is 10011011#95;2.

16. countableuncountablecomputingThe numeric complement of a number.

    The complement of −123 is 123.

17. countableuncountablebiologyA nucleotide sequence in which each base is replaced by the complementary base of the given sequence: adenine (A) by thymine (T) or uracil (U), cytosine (C) by guanine (G), and vice versa.

    A DNA molecule is formed from two strands, each of which is the complement of the other.

18. countableuncountablebiochemistrySynonym of alexin.

    Synonyms: alexin

19. abbreviationcountableuncountableeconomicsAbbreviation of complementary good.
20. archaiccountableuncountableSomething (or someone) that completes; the consummation.First known use 14th c.

    perform all those works of mercy, which Clemens Alexandrinus calls amoris et amicitiæ impletionem et extentionem, the extent and complement of love[…].

    1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC

21. countableobsoleteuncountableThe act of completing something, or the fact of being complete; completion, completeness, fulfilment.First known use 15th–18th c.

    And both encreast the prayse of woman kynde, / And both encreast her beautie excellent: / So all did make in her a perfect complement.

    1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto V”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

22. countableobsoleteuncountableSomething which completes one's equipment, dress etc.; an accessory.First known use 16th–17th c.

    Garnish'd and deck'd in modest complement,

    1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]

    2 more examples

    A doleful case desires a doleful song, Without vain art or curious complements.

    1591, Edmund Spenser, The Teares of the Muses [The Tears of the Muses]: Polyhymnia

    A man should be judged by himselfe, and not by his complements.

    1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 42, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book I, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC

present singular third person complements · participle present complementing · participle past complemented · past complemented

1. To complete, to bring to perfection, to make whole.

   We believe your addition will complement the team.

   Synonyms: tie in

2. To provide what the partner lacks and lack what the partner provides, thus forming part of a whole.

   I believe our talents really complement each other.

   1 more example

   The flavors of the pepper and garlic complement each other, giving a very rich taste in combination.

3. To change a voltage, number, color, etc. to its complement.

plural complements

1. countableuncountableObsolete spelling or misspelling of compliment.

   A man of complements

   c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]

present singular third person complements · participle present complementing · participle past complemented · past complemented

1. Obsolete spelling or misspelling of compliment.