complex
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adj.having many different parts and being difficult to understand.
adj.consisting of many interconnected parts; intricate or complicated in structure.
Simple“The instructions for the new software were too complex for me to follow.”
In context“The legal team spent months untangling the complex web of financial transactions that led to the company's collapse.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
adj.related to a type of number that has both a real part and an imaginary part.
adj.pertaining to numbers of the form a + bi, where i is the square root of negative one.
Simple“We learned how to plot complex numbers on a graph today.”
In context“The engineer used complex variables to model the fluid dynamics of the turbine blades under high pressure.”
Antonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a group of buildings or rooms that are close together and used for a similar purpose.
n.a whole structure or connected series of buildings or facilities.
Simple“The new sports complex has a swimming pool and three gyms.”
In context“The industrial complex on the edge of the city houses several manufacturing plants and a central distribution warehouse.”
Synonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a group of feelings or worries that influence how someone behaves, often without them knowing it.
n.a related group of repressed mental networks that dominate a person's emotional life.
Simple“He has a bit of a superiority complex and always thinks he is right.”
In context“Psychologists suggest that her childhood experiences contributed to an inferiority complex that manifests in her professional life.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
n.a structure where a central atom is connected to other molecules.
n.a molecular entity formed by the loose association of two or more component molecules or ions.
Simple“The scientist studied how the protein complex reacts to the new medicine.”
In context“The stability of the metal-ligand complex is highly dependent on the pH levels of the surrounding solution.”
Synonyms - 06 C2 Proficiency
v.to join with another substance to form a single structure.
v.to form a complex with another substance; often used in biochemical contexts.
Simple“The dye will complex with the fibers to create a permanent color.”
In context“The researchers observed the metal ions as they began to complex with the organic molecules in the sample.”
Usage complex life · complex behaviors · complex needs
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.