complement

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: full complementaccompaniment

WordNet 3.0

Noun (6)

  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 a whole force“a full complement of workers”Synonyms: full complement
  4. something added to complete or embellish or make perfect“a fine wine is a perfect complement to the dinner”“wild rice was served as an accompaniment to the main dish”Synonyms: accompaniment
  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)

  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”
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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. [1913 Webster]

2.That which is required to supply a deficiency, or to complete a symmetrical whole. [1913 Webster]

History is the complement of poetry.— Sir J. Stephen.[1913 Webster]

3.Full quantity, number, or amount; a complete set; completeness. [1913 Webster]

To exceed his complement and number appointed him which was one hundred and twenty persons.— Hakluyt.[1913 Webster]

4.(Math.) A second quantity added to a given quantity to make it equal to a third given quantity. [1913 Webster]

5.Something added for ornamentation; an accessory. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Without vain art or curious complements.— Spenser.[1913 Webster]

6.(Naut.) The whole working force of a vessel. [1913 Webster]

7.(Mus.) The interval wanting to complete the octave; -- the fourth is the complement of the fifth, the sixth of the third. [1913 Webster]

8.A compliment. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

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 Complement of an 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. [1913 Webster]

Complement \Com"ple*ment\, v. t.

1.To supply a lack; to supplement. [R.] [1913 Webster]

2.To compliment. [Obs.] --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing

complement

<logic> The other value or values in the set of possible values.

See logical complement, bitwise complement, set complement.

(1995-01-24)

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