Complement - Dictionary Definition and Overview

Complement :  (noun)
1: a word or phrase used to complete a grammatical construction
2: a complete number or quantity; "a full complement"
3: number needed to make up whole force; "a full complement of workers" [syn: full complement]
4: something added to complete or make perfect; "a fine wine is a perfect complement to the dinner"
5: one of a series of enzymes in the blood serum that are part of the immune response
6: either of two parts that mutually complete each other (verb)

1: make complete or perfect; supply what is wanting or form the complement to; "I need some pepper to complement the sweet touch in the soup"

Based on WordNet 2.0

Complement : \Com"ple*ment\, n. [L. complementun: cf. F. compl['e]ment. See Complete, v. t., and cf. Compliment.] 1. That which fills up or completes; the quantity or number required to fill a thing or make it complete.

2. That which is required to supply a deficiency, or to complete a symmetrical whole.

History is the complement of poetry. --Sir J. Stephen.

3. Full quantity, number, or amount; a complete set; completeness.

To exceed his complement and number appointed him which was one hundred and twenty persons. --Hakluyt.

4. (Math.) A second quantity added to a given quantity to make it equal to a third given quantity.

5. Something added for ornamentation; an accessory. [Obs.]

Without vain art or curious complements. --Spenser.

6. (Naut.) The whole working force of a vessel.

7. (Mus.) The interval wanting to complete the octave; -- the fourth is the complement of the fifth, the sixth of the third.

8. A compliment. [Obs.] --Shak.

Arithmetical compliment of a logarithm. See under Logarithm.

Arithmetical complement of a number (Math.), the difference between that number and the next higher power of 10; as, 4 is the complement of 6, and 16 of 84.

Complement of an arc or angle (Geom.), the difference between that arc or angle and 90[deg].

Complement of a parallelogram. (Math.) See Gnomon.

In her complement (Her.), said of the moon when represented as full.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Complement : \Com"ple*ment\, v. t. 1. To supply a lack; to supplement. [R.]

2. To compliment. [Obs.] --Jer. Taylor.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Complement : 

The other value or values in the set of possible values.

See logical complement, bitwise complement, set complement.

(1995-01-24)



Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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