complex

B1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /kɑmˈplɛks/ UK /ˈkɒmplɛks/ See IPA manual

Freq #3262

Meanings

1

adj
Having many connected parts and so difficult to understand or deal with.

Climate change is a complex problem with no easy solution.
2

adj
Made up of many parts; not simple.

The human brain is a remarkably complex organ.
3

noun
A group of buildings used for a particular purpose.

They built a new sports complex on the edge of town.
4

noun
In mathematics, a number of the form a + bi, involving the square root of minus one.

Engineers often use complex numbers in signal processing.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · having many connected parts... complicated intricate involved

2 adj · made up of many parts; not... composite

More complexedcomplicate convoluted gordian involute involutional knotty labyrinthal labyrinthine

Opposites

incomplexnoncomplexnoncomplicatedsimple simplex straightforwarduncomplexuncomplexeduncomplicated unconvoluted

Word family

Forms complexedcomplexescomplexing

Derived forms bicomplexbiocomplexcineplexcoalplexcomplex-differentiablecomplexabilitycomplexationcomplexificationcomplexifiedcomplexifycomplexifyingcomplexin

Related forms complexion complexity complicationsymplectic

Appears in

Phrases (3)

See all

complex machine
a machine with many interacting parts

Adjective + noun
complex system
a system with many interconnected and difficult-to-understand parts

Adjective + noun
inferiority complex
a persistent sense of being less capable or valuable than other people

Noun + noun

Etymology

From French complexe, from Latin complexus, past participle of complector (“to entwine, encircle, compass, infold”), from com- (“together”) and plectō (“to weave, braid”). May be analyzed as com- + -plex. See complect. Doublet of complexus.

*pleḱ- Proto-Indo-European complexe French complexus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# complex

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /kɑmˈplɛks/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈkɒmplɛks/
**Frequency rank:** 3262

## Meanings
1. Having many connected parts and so difficult to understand or deal with.
2. Made up of many parts; not simple.
3. A group of buildings used for a particular purpose.
4. In mathematics, a number of the form a + bi, involving the square root of minus one.

## Examples
- Climate change is a complex problem with no easy solution.
- The human brain is a remarkably complex organ.
- They built a new sports complex on the edge of town.
- Engineers often use complex numbers in signal processing.

## Synonyms
- complexed
- complicate
- complicated
- convoluted
- gordian
- intricate
- involute
- involutional
- involved
- knotty
- labyrinthal
- labyrinthine

## Antonyms
- incomplex
- noncomplex
- noncomplicated
- simple
- simplex
- straightforward
- uncomplex
- uncomplexed
- uncomplicated
- unconvoluted

## Derived Forms
- bicomplex
- biocomplex
- cineplex
- coalplex
- complex-differentiable
- complexability
- complexation
- complexification
- complexified
- complexify
- complexifying
- complexin

## Related Forms
- complexion
- complexity
- complication
- symplectic

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *pleḱ-
- Root: complexe
- Root: complexus

## Etymology
From French complexe, from Latin complexus, past participle of complector (“to entwine, encircle, compass, infold”), from com- (“together”) and plectō (“to weave, braid”). May be analyzed as com- + -plex. See complect. Doublet of complexus.

## AI Etymology
complex is a noun and adjective. It is from French complexe, from Latin complexus, past participle of complector (“to entwine, encircle, compass, infold”), from com- (“together”) and plectō (“to weave, braid”). May be analyzed as com- + -plex. See complect. Doublet of complexus. Historical forms in the chain include *pleḱ- (Proto-Indo-European), complexe (French), and complexus (Latin). Current senses include having many connected parts and so difficult to understand or deal with, made up of many parts; not simple, and a group of buildings used for a particular purpose. Derived forms include bicomplex, biocomplex, cineplex, coalplex, and complex-differentiable. Related words include complexion, complexity, complication, and symplectic.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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