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complex
+ to-v] His French seems quite good to me, but then I'm not
really competent to judge. → opposite INCOMPETENT 2 show-
ing competence; satisfactory: He did a competent job. 3 [F]
having the legal power to deal with something: [+to-v] This
court is not competent to hear your case. →-ly adv
**com·pe·ti·tion** /ˌkɒmpəˈtɪʃən||ˌkɑːm-/ n 1 [C] a test of
strength, skill, ability etc: to go in for/enter a competition | a
crossword competition | [+to-v] a competition to find a designer
for the new airport building 2 [Uwith, between, for] the act of
competing; the struggle between several people or groups to
win something or gain an advantage; RIVALRY: There was
intense/keen/fierce competition between the journalists to get
the story. | He was in competition with some world-class
runners, so he did well to win the race. | The two products/
companies are in direct competition. (=are/produce similar
products at similar prices) | They believe that competition in
business benefits the consumer. 3 [U] the (other) competitors:
Anyone wanting to enter the computer business faces tough
competition. | It's important in business to keep a careful
watch on the competition. | They had to keep their prices low
because of foreign competition.
**com·pet·i·tive** /kəmˈpetɪtɪv/ adj 1 of, based on, or decided
by competition: the competitive nature of private industry |
competitive sports 2 liking to compete: Jane's got a very
competitive nature. 3 (of a price, product, or producer) able
to compete because it is at least as good, cheap etc as the
competitors: I always shop at that supermarket; its prices are
very competitive. | Because of the high exchange rate, our
products have lost their competitive edge. (=their ability to
compete successfully) →-ly adv →-ness n [U]
**com·pet·i·tor** /kəmˈpetɪtəʳ/ n a person, team, firm, product
etc competing with another or others; RIVAL: There were ten
competitors in the race. | We lost the contract to our competi-
tors.
**com·pi·la·tion** /ˌkɒmpɪˈleɪʃən||ˌkɑːm-/ n 1 [U] the act or
process of compiling 2 [C] a report, collection of writings
etc, that has been compiled
**com·pile** /kəmˈpaɪl/ v [T] to make (a report, a book etc) from
facts and information found in various places: It takes years
of work to compile a dictionary.
**com·pil·er** /kəmˈpaɪləʳ/ n 1 a person who compiles infor-
mation for a report, a book etc 2 tech a PROGRAM which
translates a computer language (such as BASIC) which is
understood by the PROGRAMMER into a language (such as
MACHINE CODE) which is understood by the computer
**com·pla·cen·cy** /kəmˈpleɪsənsi/ also **com·pla·cence**
/-səns/ n [U] usually derog a feeling of satisfaction with yourself
or with a situation, especially without good reason: The state
of the economy is increasingly desperate; I can see no justifica-
tion for the government's complacency.
**com·pla·cent** /kəmˈpleɪsənt/ adj [(about)] usually derog pleased
or satisfied with yourself or with a situation, often unreason-
ably; not worrying, even though you perhaps should be:
After so many wins we grew/got complacent and thought we'd
never lose - so of course we lost the next match. | a complacent
smile →-ly adv: 'I'm bound to get promoted,' he said compla-
cently.
**com·plain** /kəmˈpleɪn/ v [(about, to);T+that;obj] to express feel-
ings of annoyance, dissatisfaction, unhappiness etc; say in
an annoyed, unhappy, dissatisfied way: Mary is always
complaining. | Our neighbour said that if we made any more
noise he'd complain (about us) to the police. | He complained
that the room was too hot. | They complained bitterly about the
injustice of the system. →-er n →-ing adj →-ingly adv
**complain of sthg.** phr v [T] to say that you have (a pain,
illness etc): He was complaining of difficulty in breathing.
**com·plain·ant** /kəmˈpleɪnənt/ n law a person who makes a
complaint in a court of law; PLAINTIFF
**com·plaint** /kəmˈpleɪnt/ n 1 [(about, against)] a statement or
cause of annoyance, dissatisfaction, unhappiness, pain etc:
to make a complaint | The pupils made a list of their com-
plaints about school meals. | the hospital's complaints proce-
dure (=system for dealing with complaints by patients) |
'How are you?' 'No complaints, thanks.' (=I'm all
right) 2 [Uabout] the act of complaining: There's been wide-
spread complaint about the selection procedure. | If your
neighbours are too noisy then you have cause for complaint.
(=a good reason to complain) 3 [C] an illness, especially in
the stated part of the body: a rare liver complaint 4 lodge a
complaint (against, with) fml or law to complain formally
(about, to): Our neighbours lodged a complaint against us
with the police/with the housing authorities.
**com·plai·sance** /kəmˈpleɪzəns/ n [U] fml willingness to do
what pleases others
**com·plai·sant** /kəmˈpleɪzənt/ adj fml willing to please oth-
ers; ready to agree →-ly adv
**Com·plan** /ˈkmplæn||ˈkɑːm-/ trademark a type of food SUP-
PLEMENT sold in the UK as powder, which is mixed with
water and drunk to make a person who is ill or weak feel
better and stronger
**Com·pleat An·gler, The** /ˌkɒmpliːt ˈæŋɡlə/ a book
about FISHING (=the sport of catching fish) written by Izaak
Walton in the 17th century and still sometimes read today
**com·ple·ment¹** /ˈkɒmplɪmənt||ˈkɑːm-/ n 1 [(to)] some-
thing which, when added to something else, completes it or
makes it perfect: A fine wine is a complement to a good
meal. 2 the number or quantity needed to make something
complete: At last the English department has its full comple-
ment of teachers. (=has all the teachers it needs) 3 (in
grammar) a word or phrase (especially a noun or adjective)
that follows a verb and describes the subject of the verb: In
'John is cold' and 'John became chairman', 'cold' and 'chair-
man' are complements of John.
**com·ple·ment²** /ˈkɒmplɪmənt||ˈkɑm-/ v [T] to make
(something) complete or perfect; supply what is lacking in
(something): This wine complements the food perfectly. | Our
local bus and rail services complement each other very well. →
compare COMPLIMENT
**com·ple·men·ta·ry** /ˌkɒmplɪˈmentəri||ˌkɑːm-/ adj
1 making something complete; supplying what is lacking or
needed for completion 2 tech (of a pair of angles) making up
90° together → compare SUPPLEMENTARY
**,complementary 'colours** n [P] colours which when
mixed make white or grey
**,complementary 'medicine** n ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
when used to COMPLEMENT (=help) standard medical treat-
ment → see also ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE; compare WESTERN
MEDICINE
**com·plete¹** /kəmˈpliːt/ adj 1 having all necessary, usual, or
wanted parts; lacking nothing: Is this pack of cards
complete? | John's birthday did not seem complete without his
father there. | the complete gardener's kit (=everything a good
gardener needs) → opposite INCOMPLETE 2 [F] finished;
ended: When will work on the new railway be com-
plete? 3 total; thorough: His resignation came as a complete
surprise to his staff. | in complete control of the situation | I
made a complete fool of myself. | Our humiliation was com-
plete 4 [F+with] fully or additionally supplied: We bought the
house complete with furniture. →-ness n [U]
**complete²** v [T] 1 to make (something) whole or perfect by
adding what is missing: I need one more stamp to complete my
collection. | Seeing the family all together again completed her
happiness. 2 to finish; bring to an end (especially some-
thing that takes a long time): When will work be completed on
the new road? | He completed the book with a chapter on the
practical applications of his theory. | She has just completed
an 18-month jail sentence.
**com·plete·ly** /kəmˈpliːtli/ adv totally; in every way: The
operation was completely successful. | Is the work completely
finished? | I completely forgot about it.
**com·ple·tion** /kəmˈpliːʃən/ n [U] 1 the act of completing
something: Completion of this bridge is expected in 2004. | We
were paid on completion of the work. (=when we finished
it) | The completion date is April 10th. 2 the state of being
complete: The new road is near completion.
**com·plex¹** /ˈkɒmpleks||ˈkɑːmˈpleks/ adj 1 difficult to
understand, explain, or deal with; not clear or simple: a
complex problem/issue for which there is no simple solution |
complex bureaucratic procedures 2 consisting of many
closely connected parts: a complex network of roads connect-
ing Glasgow and Edinburgh | complex machines 3 tech (of a
word or sentence) consisting of a main part and one or more
other parts: 'Childish' is a complex word consisting of a main
part, 'child', and the suffix, '-ish'. | 'If it rains, I won't go' is a