/ˈkɒmplɪmənt/
1
- a thing that contributes extra or contrasting features to something else in such a way as to improve or emphasize its quality补充, 增强：
local ales provide the perfect complement to fine food.
当地的麦芽酒是精美食物的完美补充。
2
- in sing. a number or quantity of something, especially that required to make a group complete足数; 补足物; 补足量：
at the moment we have a full complement of staff.
目前我们人员满额。
2.1
- the number of people required to crew a ship（船员的）编制名额, 定员：
almost half the ship's complement of 322 were wounded.
该船在编的322人中几乎有一半受了伤。
2.2
- Geometry the amount in degrees by which a given angle is less than 90°【几何】余角。
2.3
- Mathematics the members of a set or class that are not members of a given subset【数】余（数）; 补（数）。
3
- Grammar one or more words, phrases, or clauses governed by a verb (or by a nominalization or a predicative adjective) that complete the meaning of the predicate. In generative grammar, all the constituents of a sentence that are governed by a verb form the complement.【语法】补语。
3.1
- (in systemic grammar) an adjective or noun that has the same reference as either the subject (as mad in he is mad) or the object (as mad in he drove her mad or manager in they appointed him manager)（系统语法）补足语。
4
- mass noun Physiology a group of proteins present in blood plasma and tissue fluid which combine with an antigen-antibody complex to bring about the lysis of foreign cells【生理】补体, 防御素。
/ˈkɒmplɪment/
with obj.
1- contribute extra or contrasting features to (someone or something) in such a way as to improve or enhance their qualities补充, 增强：
a classic blazer complements a look that's smart or casual.
一件传统的颜色鲜艳的运动夹克能衬托时髦或休闲的外表。
1.1
- add to or make complete增加; 补足：
the proposals complement the incentives already available.
这些建议增强了已有的激励因素。
USAGE
Complement and compliment （together with related words such as complementary and complimentary） are frequently confused. They are pronounced in the same way but have quite different meanings: as a verb complement means 'add to something in a way that enhances or improves', as in a classic blazer complements a look that's smart or casual, while compliment means 'admire and praise someone for something', as in he complimented her on her appearance. Complementary means 'forming a complement or addition, completing,' as in I purchased a suit with a complementary tie. This is often confused with complimentary, for which one sense is 'given freely, as a courtesy'： honeymooners receive complimentary fruit and flowers.
短语
in her complement
- Heraldry (of the moon) depicted as full【纹章】（月亮）满的, 满月的。
派生词
complemental
adjective词源
late Middle English （in the sense 'completion'）： from Latin complementum, from complere 'fill up' （see COMPLETE）. Compare with COMPLIMENT.