Definitions for complex
kəmˈplɛks, ˈkɒm plɛks; ˈkɒm plɛkscom·plex

Princeton's WordNet(4.26 / 8 votes)Rate this definition:

1. complex, compositenoun

   a conceptual whole made up of complicated and related parts

   "the complex of shopping malls, houses, and roads created a new town"

2. complex, coordination compoundnoun

   a compound described in terms of the central atom to which other atoms are bound or coordinated

3. complexnoun

   (psychoanalysis) a combination of emotions and impulses that have been rejected from awareness but still influence a person's behavior

4. building complex, complexadjective

   a whole structure (as a building) made up of interconnected or related structures

5. complexadjective

   complicated in structure; consisting of interconnected parts

   "a complex set of variations based on a simple folk melody"; "a complex mass of diverse laws and customs"

Wiktionary(3.60 / 10 votes)Rate this definition:

1. complexnoun

   A problem.

2. complexnoun

   A collection of buildings with a common purpose, such as a university or military base.

3. complexnoun

   A psychologically based dislike or fear of a particular thing.

   Jim has a real complex about working for a woman boss.

4. complexnoun

   A thunderstorm that forms when two storm fronts collide.

5. complexnoun

   A structure consisting of a central atom or molecule weakly connected to surrounding atoms or molecules.

6. complexverb

   To form a complex with another substance

7. complexadjective

   Made up of multiple parts; intricate or detailed.

8. complexadjective

   Not simple or straightforward.

9. complexadjective

   Of a number, of the form a + bi, where a and b are real numbers and i is the square root of 1.

10. complexadjective

    A curve, polygon or other figure that crosses or intersects itself.

11. Etymology: From complexe, from complexus, past participle of complecti, from com- and plectere. See complect.

Webster Dictionary(2.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Complexnoun

   composed of two or more parts; composite; not simple; as, a complex being; a complex idea

2. Complexnoun

   involving many parts; complicated; intricate

3. Complexnoun

   assemblage of related things; collection; complication

4. Etymology: [L. complexus]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Complex

   kom′pleks, adj. composed of more than one, or of many parts: not simple: intricate: difficult.—n. a complex whole.—v.t. to complicate.—ns. Complex′edness, Com′plexness, Complex′ity, state of being complex: complication.—adv. Com′plexly.—n. Complex′us, a complicated system: a large muscle of the back, passing from the spine to the head. [L. complex—com, together, and root of plicāre, to fold. See Complicate.]

Matched Categories

1. • Compound
   • Feeling
   • Psychoanalysis
   • Whole

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'complex' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1404

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'complex' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2988

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'complex' in Nouns Frequency: #1447

4. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'complex' in Adjectives Frequency: #169

How to pronounce complex?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say complex in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of complex in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of complex in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of complex in a Sentence

1. Benjamin Netanyahu:

   The campaign that we oversee plays out daily, in complex arenas, under myriad threats that recur without respite. This requires us to be constantly prepared to fight in secret, anytime and anywhere necessary. The service is charged with this effort and there is no option, but to win this war every day, we, the personnel of the ISA, have a very significant responsibility in defending the State of Israel and its inhabitants, in thwarting and blocking terrorist threats and in upholding democracy. We will continue to do this our way – with courage, wisdom, determination, innovation, dedication, and relevancy.

2. Adamo Macri:

   Abstract art involves complex layers and perspectives. To be distinct and hold a truly personalized view point, every element in the piece must be devised to be claimed as entirely mine. Meaning it's all based on sculpture, because most of what we know of photography involves capturing someone else's work, which I dislike.

3. Julia Schwab:

   The changes in canal shape are better suited to life in the oceans, where buoyancy can hold up an animal, as compared to land, where animals need a highly sensitive sense of balance to cope with gravity and complex landscapes.

4. Euell Gibbons:

   We live in a vastly complex society which has been able to provide us with a multitude of material things, and this is good, but people are beginning to suspect we have paid a high spiritual price for our plenty.

5. The Washington Post:

   The officers for the Secret Service who monitor the safety of the white house complex and ultimately the president and his family felt that these two individuals may have been intoxicated.

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