'Complement' definitions:

Definition of 'complement'

From: WordNet
noun
A word or phrase used to complete a grammatical construction
noun
A complete number or quantity; "a full complement"
noun
Number needed to make up a whole force; "a full complement of workers" [syn: complement, full complement]
noun
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" [syn: complement, accompaniment]
noun
One of a series of enzymes in the blood serum that are part of the immune response
noun
Either of two parts that mutually complete each other
verb
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"

Definition of 'Complement'

From: GCIDE
  • Complement \Com"ple*ment\, v. t.
  • 1. To supply a lack; to supplement. [R.] [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To compliment. [Obs.] --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Complement'

From: 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]

Synonyms of 'complement'

From: Moby Thesaurus