complement
n. countablen. something that completes another thing or makes it better. You use this when two things work perfectly together to create a whole.
n. a thing that contributes extra features to something else in a way that improves or emphasises its quality. Often used to describe a balanced relationship between two distinct parts that form a complete set.
The red wine is a perfect complement to the steak.
The new software serves as a necessary complement to the existing hardware, allowing the system to reach its full processing potential.
In linguistic analysis, the subject complement provides essential information that follows a linking verb to describe or rename the subject of the sentence.
From Middle English complement, from Latin complēmentum (“that which fills up or completes”), from compleō (“to fill up; to complete”) (English complete). Doublet of compliment. The verb is from the noun.
See compliment.
Often followed by the preposition 'to'. Not to be confused with 'compliment', which refers to praise.
The scarf was a nice compliment to her outfit.The scarf was a nice complement to her outfit.Learners frequently confuse 'complement' (completing something) with 'compliment' (an expression of praise).