complex 280
complex sentence with a main clause, 'I won't go', and another clause, 'If it rains'. → compare COMPOUND, SIMPLE
com·plex² /'kɒmpleks||'kɑːm-/ n 1 a system consisting of a large number of closely related parts: a shopping/sports complex (=an area containing everything needed for shopping/sport) | a complex of welfare regulations 2 [about]] a group of unconscious confused wishes, fears, feelings etc, which influence a person's behaviour, especially for the worse: He's got a persecution complex → see also INFERIORITY COMPLEX, OEDIPUS COMPLEX, SUPERIORITY COMPLEX
com·plex·ion /kəm'plekʃən/ n 1 the natural colour and appearance of the skin, especially of the face: a good/healthy/dark/fair/pale/ruddy complexion 2 [C usually sing.] a general character or nature: This information puts a (whole) new complexion on the situation. (=completely changes it) | governments of various political complexions
com·plex·i·ty /kəm'pleksɪti/ n [C;U[of]] (an example of) the state of being COMPLEX (1,2): the complexities of the tax laws | a political problem of great complexity
com·pli·ance /kəm'plaɪəns//n [U(with)] fml 1 obedience to a rule, agreement, demand etc: Compliance with the law is expected of all citizens. 2 the tendency to agree (too) willingly to other people's wishes or demands: His compliance with everything we suggest makes it hard to know what he really feels. → see also COMPLY
com·pli·ant /kəm'plaɪənt/ adj readily acting in accordance with a rule, order, the wishes of others etc → see also COMPLY —ly adv
com·pli·cate /'kɒmplɪkeɪt||'kɑːm-/ v [T] 1 to make (something) difficult to understand or deal with: There are six candidates and, to complicate matters still further, every voter has four votes! | Plans for the release of political prisoners were complicated by a fresh outbreak of terrorist activity. → compare SIMPLIFY 2 [often pass.] to make (a situation, especially an illness) worse: a serious disease complicated by an additional bacterial infection
com·pli·cat·ed /'kɒmplɪkeɪtɪd||'kɑːm-/ adj 1 difficult to understand or deal with: a complicated legal problem. | It's rather complicated to explain, but I'll try. 2 consisting of many closely related or connected parts: a complicated machine —ly adv —ness n [U]
com·pli·ca·tion /ˌkɒmplɪ'keɪʃən||ˌkɑːm-/ n 1 something that makes a situation, process etc more complicated: The car ran out of petrol, and as a further complication I had no money! | the complications of the plot 2 a new illness that happens during the course of another illness, making treatment more difficult: The doctors were sure they could cure the patient, but when complications set in they lost hope.
com·plic·i·ty /kəm'plɪsɪti/ n [U(in)] fml the act of taking part with another person in some wrong action, especially a crime: He denied complicity in the murder. → see also ACCOMPLICE
com·pli·ment¹ /'kɒmplɪmənt||'kɑːm-/ n [(on)] an expression of praise, admiration, or respect: He was showered with compliments on his excellent performance. | They paid her the compliment of making her an honorary member. | She said how nice my dress was, so I returned the compliment and said I liked hers. → see also COMPLIMENTS, fish for compliments (FISH)
com·pli·ment² /'kɒmplɪmənt||'kɑːm-/ v [T(on)] to praise with a compliment: John complimented Jean (on her new dress). | I must compliment you on the way you handled the meeting. → compare COMPLEMENT, FLATTER
com·pli·men·ta·ry /ˌkɒmplɪ'mentərɪ ||ˌkɑːm-/ adj 1 expressing admiration, praise, respect etc: complimentary remarks | My boss was very complimentary about my work. → opposite UNCOMPLIMENTARY 2 [no comp.] given free as a favour or out of respect: complimentary tickets for the theatre
com·pli·ments /'kɒmplɪmənts||'kɑːm-/ n [P] good wishes: That was an excellent dinner – my compliments to the chef!
'compliment slip n a piece of paper with a company's name and address on it that is sent out with other papers etc, instead of a proper letter → compare COVERING LETTER
com·pline, -plin /'kɒmplaɪn||'kɑːm-/ n [U] tech (often cap.) (especially in the Roman Catholic Church) the last religious service held in the evening → compare EVENSONG, VESPERS
com·ply /kəm'plaɪ/ v [[(with)] fml] to act in accordance with demand, rule etc: He reluctantly complied with their wishes. | The factory was closed for failing to comply with government safety regulations. → see also COMPLIANCE
com·po·nent /kəm'pəʊnənt/ n any of the parts that together make a whole machine or system: the component parts of a camera | Revenues from oil are the biggest single component in the country's income. → compare CONSTITUENT
com·port /kəm'pɔːt||-ɔːrt/ v [fml, often pomp] to behave (yourself) in the stated way: She comported herself well.
com·port·ment /kəm'pɔːtmənt||-ɔːr-/ n [U] fml, often pomp behaviour; manner
com·pose /kəm'pəʊz/ v 1 [i;T] to write or produce (music, poetry etc): to compose a symphony/fml) a letter | This piece of music was composed for the piano. → see also COMPOSED, COMPOSITION 2 [T] to make (especially yourself) calm, quiet etc: Jean was nervous at first but soon composed herself | She remained perfectly composed throughout the trial. → see also COMPOSURE 3 [T] fml to settle (a point of disagreement): The two leaders soon composed their differences and became friends. 4 [T] tech (in printing) to form (words, sentences, pages etc) ready for printing → see also COMPOSITOR 5 [T] composed of to be formed from (the stated parts): Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen. → see also DECOMPOSE; see COMPRISE (USAGE)
com·pos·er /kəm'pəʊzər/ n a person who writes music: Beethoven, Mozart, and all the great classical composers → compare MUSICIAN
com·pos·ite /'kɒmpəzɪt||'kɑːm'pɑː-/ n 1 something made up of different parts or materials 2 AmE for IDENTIKIT
—composite adj [A] a composite picture
com·po·si·tion /ˌkɒmpə'zɪʃn||ˌkɑːm-/ n 1 [U] the act of composing music, poetry etc: He played a piece of music of his own composition. (=which he had composed) 2 [C] a piece of music or art, or a poem: This is one of Bach's later compositions. 3 [C;U[of]] (the arrangement of) of the various parts from which something is made up: scientific instruments for analyzing the chemical composition of plants | changes in the composition of the committee as a result of the election 4 [C] an ESSAY (=a short piece of writing) done as an educational exercise 5 [U] tech the arrangement of or process of arranging words, sentences, pages etc for printing
com·pos·i·tor /kəm'pɒzɪtər||-poʊ-/ n a person who arranges words, sentences, pages etc ready for printing
com·pos men·tis /ˌkɒmpɒs 'mentɪs||ˌkɑːm-/ adj [F] especially law able to think clearly and be responsible for your actions → opposite NON COMPOS MENTIS
com·post¹ /'kɒmpɒst||'kɑːmpoʊst/ n [U] a mixture of decayed plant matter, such as grass or leaves, used for making the soil richer
compost² v [T] to put compost on or make compost from
'compost heap n a place, usually in a garden, where plant matter is piled up to make compost
com·po·sure /kəm'pəʊʒər/ n [U] calmness; a steady unworried manner or state of mind: Keep calm: don't lose your composure! → see also COMPOSE
com·pote /'kɒmpɒt, -pəʊt||'kɑːmpət/ n [C;U] fruit cooked in sweetened water and usually eaten cold
com·pound¹ /'kɒmpaʊnd||'kɑːm-/ n 1 a combination of two or more parts, substances etc, especially a chemical substance consisting of at least two different simple substances (ELEMENTS) combined so as to have qualities different from those of the substances from which it is made: Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) is a compound made from sulphur and oxygen | natural compounds → compare MIXTURE 2 a compound word
compound² adj 1 (of a single whole) consisting of two or more parts, substances etc: an insect's compound eye | a compound leaf (=made of several small leaves joined to one stem) 2 tech (of a word or sentence) consisting of two or more main parts: 'Childcare' is a compound word consisting of the two main parts 'child' and 'care'. → compare COMPLEX, SIMPLE
com·pound³ /kəm'paʊnd/ v [T] 1 [often pass.] to make worse