complement

verb

/ˈkɒmplɪment/

/ˈkɑːmplɪment/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they complement	/ˈkɒmplɪment/ /ˈkɑːmplɪment/
he / she / it complements	/ˈkɒmplɪments/ /ˈkɑːmplɪments/
past simple complemented	/ˈkɒmplɪmentɪd/ /ˈkɑːmplɪmentɪd/
past participle complemented	/ˈkɒmplɪmentɪd/ /ˈkɑːmplɪmentɪd/
-ing form complementing	/ˈkɒmplɪmentɪŋ/ /ˈkɑːmplɪmentɪŋ/

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complement something to add to something in a way that improves it or makes it more attractive补充；补足；使完美；使更具吸引力
- The excellent menu is complemented by a good wine list.佳肴佐以美酒，堪称完美无缺。
- The team needs players who complement each other.球队需要能够相互取长补短的队员。
- The flavours in the dish complement each other perfectly.这道菜的各种味道搭配得很好。
Which Word? compliment / complement
compliment / complement
- These words have similar spellings but completely different meanings. If you compliment someone, you say something very nice to them:这两个词拼写相似，但意义完全不同。compliment 指赞美、称赞：
  She complimented me on my English.她夸奖我的英语好。
  If one thing complements another, the two things work or look better because they are together:complement 表示相辅相成、相配合：
  The different flavours complement each other perfectly.不同的味道搭配在一起，可口极了。
- The adjectives are also often confused. Complimentary:
  She made some very complimentary remarks about my English.她对我的英语赞赏有加。
  It can also mean ‘free’:该词亦含免费赠送之义：
  There was a complimentary basket of fruit in our room.我们房间里有一篮免费赠送的水果。
  Complementary:
  The team members have different but complementary skills.队员技术不同但能互补。
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- nicely
- well
- perfectly
- …
See full entry
Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘completion’): from Latin complementum, from complere ‘fill up’, from com- (expressing intensive force) + plere ‘fill’. Compare with compliment.

complement

noun

/ˈkɒmplɪmənt/

/ˈkɑːmplɪmənt/

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complement (to something) a thing that adds new qualities to something in a way that improves it or makes it more attractive补充物；补足物
- This vegetable's natural sweetness is a perfect complement to salty or rich foods.这种蔬菜的天然甜味是咸或油腻食物的完美补充。
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- good
- ideal
- natural
- …
preposition
- complement to
See full entry
the complete number or quantity needed or allowed足数；足额
- We've taken our full complement of trainees this year.我们今年接收的实习生已满员。
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- full
- large
- normal
- …
verb + complement
- take
preposition
- complement of
See full entry
(grammar语法) a word or phrase, especially an adjective or a noun, that is used after linking verbs such as be and become, and describes the subject of the verb. In some descriptions of grammar it is used to refer to any word or phrase that is governed by a verb and usually comes after the verb in a sentence.补足语；补语
- In the sentences ‘I'm angry’ and ‘He became a politician’, ‘angry’ and ‘politician’ are complements.在句子 I'm angry 和 He became a politician 中，angry 和 politician 为补语。
Topics Languageb2

Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘completion’): from Latin complementum, from complere ‘fill up’, from com- (expressing intensive force) + plere ‘fill’. Compare with compliment.