3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Complex  \Com"plex\,  a.  [L.  complexus,  p.  p.  of  complecti  to 
  entwine  around  comprise;  com-  +  plectere  to  twist,  akin  to 
  plicare  to  fold.  See  {Plait},  n.] 
  1.  Composed  of  two  or  more  parts  composite;  not  simple;  as 
  a  complex  being  a  complex  idea. 
 
  Ideas  thus  made  up  of  several  simple  ones  put 
  together,  I  call  complex;  such  as  beauty,  gratitude, 
  a  man,  an  army,  the  universe.  --Locke. 
 
  2.  Involving  many  parts  complicated;  intricate. 
 
  When  the  actual  motions  of  the  heavens  are 
  calculated  in  the  best  possible  way  the  process  is 
  difficult  and  complex.  --Whewell. 
 
  {Complex  fraction}.  See  {Fraction}. 
 
  {Complex  number}  (Math.),  in  the  theory  of  numbers,  an 
  expression  of  the  form  a  +  b[root]-1,  when  a  and  b  are 
  ordinary  integers. 
 
  Syn:  See  {Intricate}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Complex  \Com"plex\,  n.  [L.  complexus] 
  Assemblage  of  related  things  collection;  complication. 
 
  This  parable  of  the  wedding  supper  comprehends  in  it 
  the  whole  complex  of  all  the  blessings  and  privileges 
  exhibited  by  the  gospel.  --South. 
 
  {Complex  of  lines}  (Geom.),  all  the  possible  straight  lines 
  in  space  being  considered,  the  entire  system  of  lines 
  which  satisfy  a  single  relation  constitute  a  complex;  as 
  all  the  lines  which  meet  a  given  curve  make  up  a  complex. 
  The  lines  which  satisfy  two  relations  constitute  a 
  congruency  of  lines;  as  the  entire  system  of  lines,  each 
  one  of  which  meets  two  given  surfaces,  is  a  congruency. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  complex 
  adj  :  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"  [ant:  {simple}] 
  n  1:  a  conceptual  whole  made  up  of  complicated  and  related  parts 
  [syn:  {composite}] 
  2:  a  compound  described  in  terms  of  the  central  atom  to  which 
  other  atoms  are  bound  or  coordinated  [syn:  {coordination 
  compound}] 
  3:  (psychoanalysis)  a  combination  of  emotions  and  impulses  that 
  have  been  rejected  from  awareness  but  still  influence  a 
  person's  behavior 
  4:  a  whole  building  made  up  of  interconnected  or  related 
  structures  [syn:  {building  complex}] 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
or search   thesauri dictionary search words