View source for Complement

{{AWL}}

=== Pronunciation ===
* {{UK}} {{IPA|/ˈkɒmpləmənt/}}, {{SAMPA|/"kQmpl@m@nt/}}
* {{US}} {{IPA|/ˈkɑːmpləmənt/}}, {{SAMPA|/"kA:mpl@m@nt/}}
* {{audio|LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-complement.wav|UK}}
* {{hyph|com|ple|ment}}
* {{hmp|compliment}} {{a|in some dialects}}

== Verb ==
{{verb}}
# {{transitive}} If <math>x</math> complements <math>y</math>, <math>x</math> makes <math>y</math> [[complete]] or [[whole]].
#: ''We believe your addition will '''complement''' the team.''
# {{transitive}} If two people or things '''complement''' each other, each has what the other is missing or needs.
#: ''The flavors of the pepper and garlic '''complement''' each other, giving a very rich taste in combination.''
#: ''I believe our [[talent]]s really '''complement''' each other.''
# {{transitive}} To change a [[voltage]], [[number]], [[color]], etc. to its complement.

== Noun ==
{{noun}}
# Something which complements.
#: ''We believe you will make a good '''complement''' to our team.''
# {{grammar context}} A '''complement''' is a word or phrase that is needed to make another word grammatical.
#: ''In ''he seems nice'', ''nice'' is the '''complement''' of ''seem''.''
# {{geometry}}  an [[angle]] which, together with a given angle, makes a [[right angle]].
# The [[color]] which, when mixed with the given color, gives black (for mixing pigments) or white (for mixing light).
#: ''The '''complement''' of blue is orange.''
# In [[boat]]ing: The full number of [[people]] needed to man a [[ship]] (esp. a [[ship of war]])
#: ''The ship's '''complement''' is 35 people. 35 people are needed to sail the ship''

=== Related words ===
* [[complementary]]

{{grammar}}