complex
nounEtymology 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.
11 senses
- 1A network of interconnected systems.
- 2A collection of buildings with a common purpose, such as…
- 3An assemblage of related things; a collection.
- 4An organized cluster of thunderstorms.
- 5A cluster of wildfires burning in the same vicinity.
- 6A group of closely related species, often distinguished…
- 7A group of emotionally charged ideas or mental factors…
- 8A fixed mental tendency or obsession.
- 9A structure consisting of a central atom or molecule…
- 10A complex number.
- 11A multimorphemic word, one with several parts, one with affixes.
A network of interconnected systems.
- military–industrial complex
A collection of buildings with a common purpose, such as a university or military base.
- The south polar region of Promethei Planum developed a Bermuda Triangle reputation. Satellites detected intermittent mass concentrations and magnetic field shifts. In 2148, prospectors working near Deseado Crater discovered an underground complex: a Prothean observation post. The odd phenomena were generated by the operation and discharge of a mass effect core, struggling to function despite fifty millennia of neglect.2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Protheans: Mars Ruins Codex entry:
- A man at the complex said he had seen the often heavily made-up girls coming and going in luxury vehicles.2021 February 6, The Courier-Mail, Brisbane, page 4, column 1:
An assemblage of related things; a collection.
- This parable of the wedding supper comprehends in it the whole complex of all the blessings and privileges exhibited by the gospel.1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London:
An organized cluster of thunderstorms.
A cluster of wildfires burning in the same vicinity.
- The fire complex began as two separate fires.
- As of early Wednesday, there were at least 25 major wildfires and fire complexes, the term given to multiple fires in a single geographic area, burning in California, Christine McMorrow, a Cal Fire information officer, said.2020 September 16, “Millions of acres burn in California as weather improves in Northwest.”, in The New York Times, retrieved 16 Sep 2020:
Biology, Natural sciences, Taxonomy A group of closely related species, often distinguished only with difficulty by traditional morphological methods.
- Since then, a good deal of research has documented and concluded that the nominal species A. fraterculus actually comprises an unresolved complex of cryptic species.2015 November 26, Mosè Manni et al., “Relevant genetic differentiation among Brazilian populations of Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera, Tephritidae)”, in ZooKeys, volume 540, →DOI:
Human sciences, Psychology, Sciences A group of emotionally charged ideas or mental factors, unconsciously associated by the individual with a particular subject, arising from repressed instincts, fears, or desires and often resulting in mental abnormality.
- Jim has a real complex about working for a woman boss.
Human sciences, Psychology, Sciences A fixed mental tendency or obsession.
Chemistry, Natural sciences, Physical sciences A structure consisting of a central atom or molecule weakly connected to surrounding atoms or molecules, as for example coordination compounds in inorganic chemistry and protein complexes in biochemistry.
- Oxygen levels on Earth skyrocketed 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis:[…]. The evolutionary precursor of photosynthesis is still under debate, and a new study sheds light. The critical component of the photosynthetic system is the “water-oxidizing complex”, made up of manganese atoms and a calcium atom.2013 September-October, Katie L. Burke, “In the News”, in American Scientist:
Mathematics, Sciences A complex number.
- The interesting aspect here is that U₃ is irreducible, even though all irreps over the complexes are one-dimensional because ℤ₄ is abelian.1996, Barry Simon, Representations of Finite and Compact Groups, page 50:
Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences A multimorphemic word, one with several parts, one with affixes.
- Derived terms
130 terms
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