complex
/kɑmˈplɛks/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.86 in modern English
20
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Not simple, easy, or straightforward; complicated.
adj
Having the form a + bi, where a and b are real numbers and i is (by definition) the imaginary square root of −1.
adj
Whose range is a subset of the complex numbers.
adj
Whose coefficients are complex numbers; defined over the field of complex numbers.
noun
A network of interconnected systems.
noun
A collection of buildings with a common purpose, such as a university or military base.
Example Sentences
- "a complex being; a complex idea"
- "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."
- "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."
- "complex number"
- "function of a complex variable"
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.
Origin
- Source language: French
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /kɑmˈplɛks/
- British English: /ˈkɒmplɛks/
Usage
Inflected Forms
more complex (comparative)
complexer (comparative, nonstandard)
most complex (superlative)
complexest (nonstandard, superlative)
complexes (plural)
complices (nonstandard, plural)
complexes (present, singular)
complexing (participle, present)
complexed (participle, past)
complexed (past)