complex

Everyday

1. Complex means made of many connected parts and hard to understand or explain. tree →
2. A complex is a group of buildings used for one purpose, as in «a sports complex». tree →
3. A complex is a strong, worried feeling about something, as in «He has a complex about his height». tree →
4. (science) A complex is a group of things that work together, like a complex of chemicals. tree →

In the lessons

In maths and science, complex problems and systems; in everyday life, sports complexes, apartment complexes; in English and psychology, a complex is a worry; phrases: sports complex, complex sentence (grammar: a sentence with a main clause and a subordinate clause).

Examples

• This puzzle is quite complex. tree →
• The human brain is very complex. tree →
• We swim at the new leisure complex. tree →
• A complex sentence has a main clause and a subordinate clause. tree →
• She has a complex about her freckles. tree →
• The rules of the game were too complex for my little brother. tree →
• It is evident that the traditions from which the popular conception of the ghostly enemy has been evolved must have been of a complex and even conflicting character. tree →

Note

Opposite of «simple». Do not confuse with «complicated» (usually more negative) — both are close. Grammar term: complex sentence. Stress: «COM-plex» or «com-PLEX» for the adjective.

In Jewish tradition

In maths and science, complex problems and systems; in everyday life, sports complexes, apartment complexes; in English and psychology, a complex is a worry; phrases: sports complex, complex sentence (grammar: a sentence with a main clause and a subordinate clause).

Note

Opposite of «simple». Do not confuse with «complicated» (usually more negative) — both are close. Grammar term: complex sentence. Stress: «COM-plex» or «com-PLEX» for the adjective.