complex

Etymology

From French complexe, from Latin complexus, past participle of complectī (“to entwine, encircle, compass, infold”), from com- (“together”) and plectere (“to weave, braid”). See complect.

Pronunciation

Adjective

• (UK) IPA^(key): /kəmˈplɛks/, /ˈkɒm.plɛks/

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• (US) enPR: kəmplĕks, kŏm'plĕks; IPA^(key): /kəmˈplɛks/, /ˈkɑmplɛks/

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Noun

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkɒm.plɛks/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• (US) enPR: kŏm'plĕks, IPA^(key): /ˈkɑmplɛks/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

complex (comparative complexer or more complex, superlative complexest or most complex)

1. Made up of multiple parts; composite; not simple.

   a complex being; a complex idea

   • John Locke

     Ideas thus made up of several simple ones put together, I call complex; such as beauty, gratitude, a man, an army, the universe.

2. Not simple, easy, or straightforward; complicated.
   • Whewell

     When the actual motions of the heavens are calculated in the best possible way, the process is difficult and complex.

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

   complex function

4. (geometry) A curve, polygon or other figure that crosses or intersects itself.

Noun

complex (plural complexes or complices)

1. A problem.
2. A collection of buildings with a common purpose, such as a university or military base.
3. An assemblage of related things; a collection.
   • South

     This parable of the wedding supper comprehends in it the whole complex of all the blessings and privileges exhibited by the gospel.

4. A psychological dislike or fear of a particular thing.

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

5. An organized cluster of thunderstorms.
6. (chemistry) A structure consisting of a central atom or molecule weakly connected to surrounding atoms or molecules.
   • 2013 September-October, Katie L. Burke, “In the News”, in American Scientist:

     Oxygen levels on Earth skyrocketed 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis: […] . The evolutionary precursor of photosynthesis is still under debate, and a new study sheds light. The critical component of the photosynthetic system is the “water-oxidizing complex”, made up of manganese atoms and a calcium atom.

7. (mathematics) A complex number.
   • 1996, Barry Simon, Representations of Finite and Compact Groups (page 50)

     The interesting aspect here is that U₃ is irreducible, even though all irreps over the complexes are one-dimensional because ℤ₄ is abelian.

Verb

complex (third-person singular simple present complexes, present participle complexing, simple past and past participle complexed)

1. (chemistry, intransitive) To form a complex with another substance

Further reading

• complex in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• complex in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• complex at OneLook Dictionary Search

Etymology

From Latin complexus.

Adjective

complex (feminine complexa, masculine plural complexos, feminine plural complexes)

1. complex

   Antonyms: simple, senzill

Noun

complex m (plural complexos)

1. complex (clarification of this definition is needed)

Further reading

• “complex” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

Adjective

complex (comparative complexer, superlative meest complex or complext)

1. complex

Noun

complex n (plural complexen, diminutive complexje n)

1. complex

Etymology

French complexe, from Latin complexus

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [komˈpleks]

Adjective

complex m, n (feminine singular complexă, masculine plural complecși, feminine and neuter plural complexe)

1. complex