complement

B1 Topic:Language & Linguistics

US /ˈkɑmpləmənt/ UK /ˈkɒmpləmənt/ See IPA manual

Homophones

compliment /ˈkɑmpləmənt/

Freq #22591

Meanings

1

noun
Something that goes well with another thing and makes it better or complete.

A fine wine is the perfect complement to the dinner.
2

verb
To go well with something and improve it or make it complete.

The bright scarf complements her plain black dress.
3

noun
The full number or amount needed to make something complete.

The ship sailed with its full complement of crew.
4

noun
In grammar, a word or words that complete the meaning of a verb and describe the subject or object.

In 'She is a doctor', 'a doctor' is the complement.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · something that goes well... accompaniment

3 noun · the full number or amount... full complement

Word family

Forms complementedcomplementingcomplements

Derived forms anticomplementcomplementablecomplementalcomplementariancomplementercomplementisationcomplementizationcomplementizecomplementoidcomplementologistcomplementologycomplementopathy

Related forms complementary complete compliment counterpart inversion invert negate negation supplement

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

full complement
the complete number of people or things needed for a task

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Middle English complement, from Latin complēmentum (“that which fills up or completes”), from compleō (“to fill up; to complete”) (English complete). Doublet of compliment. The verb is from the noun.

complement Middle English complēmentum Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Language & Linguistics Abstract Ideas

External links

# complement

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈkɑmpləmənt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈkɒmpləmənt/
**Frequency rank:** 22591

## Meanings
1. Something that goes well with another thing and makes it better or complete.
2. To go well with something and improve it or make it complete.
3. The full number or amount needed to make something complete.
4. In grammar, a word or words that complete the meaning of a verb and describe the subject or object.

## Examples
- A fine wine is the perfect complement to the dinner.
- The bright scarf complements her plain black dress.
- The ship sailed with its full complement of crew.
- In 'She is a doctor', 'a doctor' is the complement.

## Derived Forms
- anticomplement
- complementable
- complemental
- complementarian
- complementer
- complementisation
- complementization
- complementize
- complementoid
- complementologist
- complementology
- complementopathy

## Related Forms
- complementary
- complete
- compliment
- counterpart
- inversion
- invert
- negate
- negation
- supplement

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: complement
- Root: complēmentum

## Etymology
From Middle English complement, from Latin complēmentum (“that which fills up or completes”), from compleō (“to fill up; to complete”) (English complete). Doublet of compliment. The verb is from the noun.

## AI Etymology
complement is a noun and verb. It is from Middle English complement, from Latin complēmentum (“that which fills up or completes”), from compleō (“to fill up; to complete”) (English complete). Doublet of compliment. The verb is from the noun. Historical forms in the chain include complement (Middle English) and complēmentum (Latin). Current senses include something that goes well with another thing and makes it better or complete, to go well with something and improve it or make it complete, and the full number or amount needed to make something complete. Derived forms include anticomplement, complementable, complemental, complementarian, and complementer. Related words include complementary, complete, compliment, and counterpart.

## Topics
- Language & Linguistics
- Abstract Ideas

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