Dictionary

complex en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (General-American) audio
• /kəmˈplɛks/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /kəm-/ (General-American)
• /ˈkɒmplɛks/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• kŏm'plĕks (General-American)
• kəmplĕks (General-American)
• /kɑmˈplɛks/ (General-American)
• /ˈkɑmˌplɛks/ (General-American)
• (Received-Pronunciation) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Latin con- Proto-Indo-European *pel- Proto-Indo-European *pleḱ-der. Proto-Italic *plektōder. Latin plectō Latin complector Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Italic *-tus Latin -tus Latin complexuslbor. French complexebor. English complex 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.

Meanings

1. Made up of multiple parts; composite; not simple.
   • The human body is a complex system made up of many layers.
   • Ideas thus made up of several simple ones put together, I call complex; such as beauty, gratitude, a man, an army, the universe. 1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], chapter 2, in An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC, book I, page 12:
   • a complex being; a complex idea
2. Not simple, easy, or straightforward; complicated.
   • If, when the actual motions of the heavens are calculated in the best possible way, the process is complex and difficult, and if we are discontented at this, nature, and not the astronomer, must be the object of our displeasure. 1837, William Whewell, “Inductive Epoch of Hipparchus”, in History of the Inductive Sciences, from the Earliest to the Present Times. […], volume I, London: John W[illiam] Parker, […]; Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: J. and J. J. Deighton, →OCLC, book III (History of Greek Astronomy), section 2 (Estimate of the Value of the Theory of Eccentrics and Epicycles), page 183:
3. (of a number) Having the form a + bi, where a and b are real numbers and i is (by definition) the imaginary square root of −1.
   • function of a complex variable
   • complex number
4. (of a function) Whose range is a subset of the complex numbers.
   • complex function
5. Whose coefficients are complex numbers; defined over the field of complex numbers.
   • complex polynomial
   • complex algebraic variety
6. A curve, polygon or other figure that crosses or intersects itself.

Forms

Antonyms

like robbing a baby · yezzy · smooth · undifficult · easy as toffee · unconvoluted · uncomplex · soft · basic · straightforward · uncomplicated · easy peasy Japanesey · like falling off a log · like shooting fish in a barrel · easy as pie · natural · straightforward · trivial · easy-breezy · unchallenging · easy as 123 · noncomplex · idiotproof · simple · easy peasy · straightforward · easy as ABC · like a duck takes to water · as a duck takes to water · troublefree · like taking candy from a baby · like shelling peas · simple · plain-sailing · piss-easy · eath · like riding a bike · noncomplicated · simple · light · easy as cake · simplex · easy peasy lemon squeezy · no-fuss · painless · easy as falling off a log · effortless · easy as rolling off a log · simple as kiss your hand · easy · uncomplicated · facile · simplex · prosaic · easy · basic · undemanding · simplex · incomplex · uncomplexed

Deriveds

complex conjugate root theorem · supercomplex · complexification · complex line · complexified · decomplexification · complexin · complex number · complex marriage · complextro · pseudocomplex · uncomplex · complex analysis · irreducibly complex · complexly · complex volcano · tricomplex · multiplex · megacomplex · surcomplex · complexome · complex transitive · split-complex number · decomplexify · complex function · ultracomplex · overcomplex · multicomplex · complex question · complex measure · paracomplex · complexology · complex compound · complex post-traumatic stress disorder · incomplex · complex-differentiable · complex conjugate · complex plane · complex conjugation · complexify · complex projective line · noncomplex · complexness · bicomplex · complexity · decomplexifying · decomplexified · complexologist · complex sentence · complexifying · decomplex · complex geometry · hypercomplex · complex regional pain syndrome · complex fraction · neotenic complex syndrome · complex ion

Hypernyms

difficult · detailed

Hyponyms

overdesigned · over one's head · confusing · out of one's depth · Pynchonesque

Relateds

complexity · complexion · Daedalian · complication · symplectic · Kafkaesque

Synonyms

involved · convoluted · complicated · labyrinthine · Gordian · difficult · involved · detailed · knotty · complicate · labyrinthal · hard · involute · complex · tough · involutional · complicated · intricate · manifold · intricate · complexed

Translations (155)

th ซับซ้อน (intricate) · ru составно́й (intricate) · la involūtus (not simple or straightforward) · gl complexo (not simple or straightforward) · mk сложен (not simple or straightforward) · th เชิงซ้อน (in mathematics) · bg комплексен (in mathematics) · mk компликуван (not simple or straightforward) · sh složen (not simple or straightforward) · hy խճճված (intricate) · hu összetett (intricate) · ko 복잡하다 (not simple or straightforward) · hu komplex (in mathematics) · ka ძნელი (not simple or straightforward) · hu bonyolult (not simple or straightforward) · te సంక్లిష్టమైన (not simple or straightforward) · bg съставен (intricate) · mi tuatini (intricate) · tr karmaşık (in mathematics) · pl skomplikowany (intricate) · hy կոմպլեքս (in mathematics) · bg тру́ден (not simple or straightforward) · gd eadar-fhillte (not simple or straightforward) · es complejo (intricate) · pl złożony (intricate) · ht konplèks (intricate) · mi whiwhi (not simple or straightforward) · eo kompleksa (not simple or straightforward) · mi pīroiroi (not simple or straightforward) · te సంక్లిష్టమైన (intricate) · ru сло́жный (intricate) · hi जटिल (not simple or straightforward) · eo kompleksa (in mathematics) · cmn 繁複 /繁复 (intricate) · el περίπλοκος (intricate) · ja 複素 (in mathematics) · ja 難解な (intricate) · cmn 複 /复 (in mathematics) · mi whiwhi (intricate) · gd co-thoinnte (intricate) · mi whīwhiwhi (intricate) · mi matatini (not simple or straightforward) · pt complicado (not simple or straightforward) · yue 複雜 /复杂 (not simple or straightforward) · de kompliziert (intricate) · ca complex (in mathematics) · la involūtus (intricate) · mi pīroiroi (intricate) · ro complex (in mathematics) · bho जटिल (intricate) · cmn 複雜 /复杂 (not simple or straightforward) · ang maniġfeald (intricate) · ja 入り込んだ (intricate) · sv komplex (not simple or straightforward) · ru ко́мплексный (in mathematics) · nl ingewikkeld (not simple or straightforward) · pl złożony (not simple or straightforward) · gl complexo (intricate) · ms rumit (not simple or straightforward) · be склада́ны (not simple or straightforward) · yue 繁複 /繁复 (intricate) · tr karmaşık (not simple or straightforward) · grc πολύπλοκος (intricate) · pt complexo (in mathematics) · ar مَعْقِد (not simple or straightforward) · nl ingewikkeld (intricate) · ca complex (intricate) · ht konplèks (not simple or straightforward) · yue 複 /复 (in mathematics) · eo malsimpla (not simple or straightforward) · mi matatini (intricate) · fi kompleksinen (intricate) · ka რთული (not simple or straightforward) · de komplex (in mathematics) · vi phức tạp (not simple or straightforward) · oc complèx (intricate) · ml സങ്കീർണ്ണമായ (intricate) · gv cramp (intricate) · la complicātus (intricate) · bg сло́жен (intricate) · ty fifi (intricate) · tl masalimuot (intricate) · es complexo (intricate) · uk складни́й (intricate) · bg сло́жен (not simple or straightforward) · fi vaikeaselkoinen (not simple or straightforward) · it complicato (not simple or straightforward) · gd co-thoinnte (not simple or straightforward) · hy բարդ (not simple or straightforward) · ru тру́дный (not simple or straightforward) · fi monitahoinen (intricate) · he מורכב (intricate) · gd eadar-fhillte (intricate) · es complexo (in mathematics) · it complesso (intricate) · haw hihi (intricate) · hi समिश्र (in mathematics) · fi kompleksi- (in mathematics) · gd eadar-fhighte (intricate) · nl complex (intricate) · ka ჩახლართული (intricate) · nl complex (not simple or straightforward) · sv invecklad (not simple or straightforward) · sv komplex (intricate) · gl complexo (in mathematics) · de kompliziert (not simple or straightforward) · ka რთული (intricate) · el μιγαδικός (in mathematics) · pt complexo (intricate) · mi manganga (not simple or straightforward) · fi monimutkainen (not simple or straightforward) · it complesso (in mathematics) · cs komplikovaný (not simple or straightforward) · ru сло́жный (not simple or straightforward) · fi monimutkainen (intricate) · es complexo (not simple or straightforward) · la complex (not simple or straightforward) · uz murakkab (intricate) · sv komplex (in mathematics) · sv komplicerad (not simple or straightforward) · ro complex (not simple or straightforward) · hi जटिल (intricate) · ca complex (not simple or straightforward) · ka კომპლექსური (intricate) · id rumit (not simple or straightforward) · es complejo (not simple or straightforward) · sh сложен (not simple or straightforward) · el πολύπλοκος (intricate) · nan-hbl 複雜 /复杂 (not simple or straightforward) · th ซับซ้อน (not simple or straightforward) · pt complexo (not simple or straightforward) · eu konplexu (in mathematics) · ka კომპლექსური (in mathematics) · mi whīwhiwhi (not simple or straightforward) · hy բարդ (intricate) · ja 複雑 (not simple or straightforward) · fr complexe (in mathematics) · sk komplikovaný (not simple or straightforward) · fr complexe (not simple or straightforward) · uk ко́мплексний (in mathematics) · ro complex (intricate) · cs komplexní (in mathematics) · da kompleks (in mathematics) · uk складни́й (not simple or straightforward) · ur مَخْلُوط (in mathematics) · el πολύπλοκος (not simple or straightforward) · nl complex (in mathematics) · sl zapleten (not simple or straightforward) · ang maniġfeald (not simple or straightforward) · hu komplex (intricate) · pl skomplikowany (not simple or straightforward) · fr complexe (intricate) · pl zespolony (in mathematics) · he מורכב (not simple or straightforward) · kmr aloz (intricate)

complex en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈkɒmplɛks/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• kŏm'plĕks (General-American)
• (General-American) audio
• /ˈkɑmˌplɛks/ (General-American)
• (Received-Pronunciation) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Latin con- Proto-Indo-European *pel- Proto-Indo-European *pleḱ-der. Proto-Italic *plektōder. Latin plectō Latin complector Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Italic *-tus Latin -tus Latin complexuslbor. French complexebor. English complex 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.

Meanings

1. A network of interconnected systems.
   • military–industrial complex
2. A collection of buildings with a common purpose, such as a university or military base.
   • The south polar region of Promethei Planum developed a Bermuda Triangle reputation. Satellites detected intermittent mass concentrations and magnetic field shifts. In 2148, prospectors working near Deseado Crater discovered an underground complex: a Prothean observation post. The odd phenomena were generated by the operation and discharge of a mass effect core, struggling to function despite fifty millennia of neglect. 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Protheans: Mars Ruins Codex entry:
   • A man at the complex said he had seen the often heavily made-up girls coming and going in luxury vehicles. 2021 February 6, The Courier-Mail, Brisbane, page 4, column 1:
3. An assemblage of related things; a collection.
   • This parable of the wedding supper comprehends in it the whole complex of all the blessings and privileges exhibited by the gospel. 1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London:
4. An assemblage of related things; a collection. ▸ An organized cluster of thunderstorms.
5. An assemblage of related things; a collection. ▸ A cluster of wildfires burning in the same vicinity.
   • As of early Wednesday, there were at least 25 major wildfires and fire complexes, the term given to multiple fires in a single geographic area, burning in California, Christine McMorrow, a Cal Fire information officer, said. 2020 September 16, “Millions of acres burn in California as weather improves in Northwest.”, in The New York Times, retrieved 16 Sep 2020:
   • The fire complex began as two separate fires.
6. An assemblage of related things; a collection. ▸ A group of closely related species, often distinguished only with difficulty by traditional morphological methods.
   • Since then, a good deal of research has documented and concluded that the nominal species A. fraterculus actually comprises an unresolved complex of cryptic species. 2015 November 26, Mosè Manni et al., “Relevant genetic differentiation among Brazilian populations of Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera, Tephritidae)”, in ZooKeys, volume 540, →DOI:
7. A group of emotionally charged ideas or mental factors, unconsciously associated by the individual with a particular subject, arising from repressed instincts, fears, or desires and often resulting in mental abnormality.
   • Jim has a real complex about working for a woman boss.
8. A group of emotionally charged ideas or mental factors, unconsciously associated by the individual with a particular subject, arising from repressed instincts, fears, or desires and often resulting in mental abnormality. ▸ A fixed mental tendency or obsession.
9. A structure consisting of a central atom or molecule weakly connected to surrounding atoms or molecules, as for example coordination compounds in inorganic chemistry and protein complexes in biochemistry.
   • Oxygen levels on Earth skyrocketed 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis:[…]. The evolutionary precursor of photosynthesis is still under debate, and a new study sheds light. The critical component of the photosynthetic system is the “water-oxidizing complex”, made up of manganese atoms and a calcium atom. 2013 September-October, Katie L. Burke, “In the News”, in American Scientist:
10. A complex number.
    • The interesting aspect here is that U₃ is irreducible, even though all irreps over the complexes are one-dimensional because ℤ₄ is abelian. 1996, Barry Simon, Representations of Finite and Compact Groups, page 50:
11. A multimorphemic word, one with several parts, one with affixes.

Forms

Deriveds

complexability · Jocasta complex · macrocomplex · superiority complex · edifice complex · nuclear pore complex · Christ complex · junctional complex · supercomplex · exosome complex · vitamin B complex · penal–industrial complex · Ghon complex · heterocomplex · nuplex · Napoleon complex · microcomplex · species complex · metal aquo complex · orthoplex · hydro complex · military–industrial complex · memeplex · serocomplex · supercluster complex · polyplex · complexation · superior olivary complex · QRS complex · membrane attack complex · coordination complex · prison–industrial complex · anaphase-promoting complex · intracomplex · cineplex · Napoléon complex · oxocomplex · Madonna-whore complex · megacomplex · training complex · Oedipus complex · messiah complex · metallocomplex · WAGR complex · sysplex · immunocomplex · TORCH complex · simplicial complex · hemicomplex · chain complex · MSG symptom complex · immune complex · antenna complex · activated complex · Phaedra complex · Werner complex · Ranke's complex · complexone · multicomplex · Messalina complex · odontocomplex · supracomplex · cyclopentadienyl complex · technocomplex · nanocomplex · crusader complex · Cinderella complex · intercomplex · cochain complex · inclusion complex · protein complex · Madonna/whore complex · complexometric · phytocomplex · exciplex · leopard complex · ternary complex · precomplex · guilt complex · inferiority complex · industrial complex · L-complex · coordinated complex · complexometry · metal complex · polycomplex · military–entertainment complex · homocomplex · tetracomplex · AIDS-related complex · bithorax complex · gora complex · Meisenheimer complex · monosodium glutamate symptom complex · nucleocomplex · Jackson-Meisenheimer complex · Fashoda complex · Frankenstein complex · Googleplex · Ranke complex · coalplex · Lolita complex · apartment complex · Bötzinger complex · military-entertainment complex · holocomplex · Atlas complex · marriage–industrial complex · Electra complex · chelate complex · Cassandra complex · military-industrial complex · hydrido complex · metroplex · subcomplex · biocomplex · hypercomplex · launch complex · flag complex · animal–industrial complex · radiocomplex · K-complex · sexual complex · Golgi complex · Ghon's complex · savior complex · God complex · persecution complex · complement membrane attack complex · metacomplex · CW complex · inner orbital complex

Hyponyms

species flock · superspecies

Synonyms

species aggregate · species complex · constellation · species group · constellation

Translations (83)

hu komplexum (collection of buildings) · hy համալիր (collection of buildings) · ms kompleks (psychologically based dislike or fear) · sv komplex (collection of buildings) · es complejo (collection of buildings) · de Gewitterkomplex (thunderstorm that forms when two storm fronts collide) · pl związek koordynacyjny (in chemistry) · he קִרְיָה (collection of buildings) · de Komplex (in chemistry) · hu épületegyüttes (collection of buildings) · ja コンプレックス (psychologically based dislike or fear) · fr complexe (psychologically based dislike or fear) · it complesso (psychologically based dislike or fear) · el συγκρότημα (collection of buildings) · pt complexo (collection of buildings) · ga ollionad (collection of buildings) · de Komplex (psychologically based dislike or fear) · es complejo (psychologically based dislike or fear) · bg компле́кс (collection of buildings) · pl kompleks (in chemistry) · vi mặc cảm (psychologically based dislike or fear) · nl complex (collection of buildings) · fi rakennuskompleksi (collection of buildings) · es complejo (in chemistry) · fi ryhmä (assemblage of related things, collection) · ja 錯体 (in chemistry) · gl complexo (psychologically based dislike or fear) · sv komplex (in chemistry) · de Komplex (collection of buildings) · ar عُقْدَة (psychologically based dislike or fear) · vi phức cảm (psychologically based dislike or fear) · fr complexe (in chemistry) · cs komplex (psychologically based dislike or fear) · et kompleks (in chemistry) · id kompleks (collection of buildings) · bg комплекс (in chemistry) · ka კომპლექსი (collection of buildings) · cmn 複合物 /复合物 (in chemistry) · it complesso (in chemistry) · uk ко́мплекс (psychologically based dislike or fear) · id kompleks (in chemistry) · fi kompleksi (psychologically based dislike or fear) · id kompleks (psychologically based dislike or fear) · hu komplexus (psychologically based dislike or fear) · hi मनोग्रंथि (psychologically based dislike or fear) · ru ко́мплекс (psychologically based dislike or fear) · ko 콤플렉스 (psychologically based dislike or fear) · el σύμπλεγμα (psychologically based dislike or fear) · bg комплекс (psychologically based dislike or fear) · de Komplex (assemblage of related things, collection) · fa همتافت (collection of buildings) · gl complexo (in chemistry) · fa عقده (psychologically based dislike or fear) · fi kompleksi (collection of buildings) · gv ard-hroggalys (collection of buildings) · gl complexo (collection of buildings) · fi kompleksi (in chemistry) · hy լրակազմ (assemblage of related things, collection) · ml സമുച്ചയം (collection of buildings) · it complesso (collection of buildings) · ca complex (psychologically based dislike or fear) · pt complexo (in chemistry) · ru ко́мплекс (collection of buildings) · pl kompleks (psychologically based dislike or fear) · cmn 情結 /情结 (psychologically based dislike or fear) · el σύμπλοκο (in chemistry) · hy բարդույթ (psychologically based dislike or fear) · uk ко́мплекс (collection of buildings) · ja コンプレックス (collection of buildings) · hu összesség (assemblage of related things, collection) · el σύμπλεγμα (collection of buildings) · ms kompleks (collection of buildings) · pt complexo (psychologically based dislike or fear) · hy համալիր (assemblage of related things, collection) · ca complex (collection of buildings) · fr complexe (collection of buildings) · ca complex (in chemistry) · pl kompleks (collection of buildings) · pt composto (in chemistry) · sv komplex (psychologically based dislike or fear) · ru ко́мплекс (in chemistry) · hu együttes (assemblage of related things, collection) · cmn 建築群 /建筑群 (collection of buildings)

complex en · VERB

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Latin con- Proto-Indo-European *pel- Proto-Indo-European *pleḱ-der. Proto-Italic *plektōder. Latin plectō Latin complector Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Italic *-tus Latin -tus Latin complexuslbor. French complexebor. English complex 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.

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To form a complex with another substance.
2. (transitive) To complicate.

Forms

Translations (5)

bg образувам комплекс (to form a complex with another substance) · es complejizar (to form a complex with another substance) · fi kompleksoida (to form a complex with another substance) · el συμπλέκω (to form a complex with another substance) · it complessare (to form a complex with another substance)