complex

Word family  noun complexity adjective complex

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

Related topics: Grammar

com·plex1 /ˈkɒmpleks $ ˌkɑːmˈpleks◂/ ●●○ W2 AWL adjective  1  COMPLICATEDconsisting of many different parts and often difficult to understand 复杂的；难以理解的〔指由许多不同的部分或过程所构成〕 SYN complicated OPP simple a complex system of highways 复杂的公路网 Photosynthesis is a highly complex process. 光合作用是一个非常复杂的过程。 Peter seemed to have an instant understanding of the most complex issues. 再复杂的问题彼得似乎也是一看就明白。 It was a very complex relationship between two complex people. 这是两个复杂的人之间非常复杂的关系。► see thesaurus at complicated2. SLG technical a complex word or sentence contains a main part and one or more other parts 〔词、句〕复合的 → compound

Examples from the Corpus

complex• The chemical processes involved in the experiment are extremely complex.• Alcohol is actually much more complex.• Yet not only was the urban population rapidly increasing, it was becoming ever more complex and articulate.• The issues here are complex and evolving.• During the past decade fundraisers' search for new donors has been increasingly complex and expensive.• And as I mentioned earlier, the social laws are more complex and less certain than the natural ones.• It is for building more and more complex bodies.• So the simplest explanation is the one that can include the whole range of complex elements within one integral and harmonious scheme.• Few people understand the complex issues of environmental science.• a complex mathematical formula• There is a complex network of roads connecting the two cities.• a complex personality• The seminar focuses on the complex relationship between government, the military, and the media.• Of course this is not necessarily the case in a more complex setting such as memory for driving situations.highly complex• Technology transfer is highly complex and often misunderstood.• Some of the problems are highly complex and unique in that lives are at stake depending on their successful resolution.• The Aborigines have a highly complex civilization, one that has existed for 60,000 years.• All the evidence points to dreaming being a highly complex cognitive activity.• The establishment of a new political system based on law was a highly complex matter and needed careful consideration, he said.• However, most of these methods paid insufficient attention to the highly complex nature of landscape values, while overemphasizing scenic attractiveness.• Social psychology is clearly another large and highly complex topic.• But the components for Worldwide Plaza were already highly complex when they arrived on site.

Related topics: Buildings, Psychology, psychiatry

com·plex2 /ˈkɒmpleks $ ˈkɑːm-/ ●●○ AWL noun [countable]  1  TBBa group of buildings, or a large building with many parts, used for a particular purpose 〔有特定用途的〕综合楼群，综合大楼 The town has one of the best leisure complexes in the country. 该镇拥有全国最好的娱乐休闲广场之一。 a three-story apartment complex 三层的综合公寓大楼2  a complex of something formalGROUP OF THINGS a large number of things which are closely related 〔某物的〕复合体，集合体，综合体 China was a complex of different societies. 中国是一个复杂的多元社会。3  MPWORRIEDan emotional problem in which someone is unnecessarily anxious about something or thinks too much about something 情结；过度的情绪反应 I used to have a complex about my looks. 我以前总是纠结于自己的长相。 → inferiority complex, Oedipus complex, persecution complexn COLLOCATIONStypes of complex a leisure complex (=where you can play sports or relax)The new leisure complex includes a swimming pool, a sauna and a gym.a shopping complexSome old buildings were pulled down to make space for a new shopping complex.a sports complexThe sports complex also has six tennis courts.an entertainment complex (=with cinemas, restaurants and other places to go)There are plans for an entertainment complex with cinemas and a bowling alley.a holiday complex (=one where people go for holidays)The lively holiday complex has plenty of nightclubs, bars, and restaurants.a housing/residential complex (=for people to live in)Architects designed the residential complexes near the beach.a retail/commercial complex (=for shops, businesses, or industries)a ten-screen movie theater and retail complexan office/museum/hospital etc complexa 120-acre office complex near Las Vegasan apartment complex American Englisha luxury apartment complex on Fulton Street

Examples from the Corpus

complex• I don't think you fully understood the complexity of his argument.• Schneider manages an apartment complex in suburban Denver.• Driving through the mine is like visiting some futuristic industrial complex on another planet.• The military-industrial complex has been analysed from both of these perspectives.• Middlesbrough Council says the £1.2m Anchor International complex will provide 30 jobs and a valuable community facility.• Papp turned the old library into a huge six-screen movie complex.• Selection can be simple, based on the value of one key, or complex, based on a number of keys.• DNA-protein complexes were analysed on 5% polyacrylamide gels.• I call it the Stalingrad complex.• First, I would change the date to June 30 as a reminder of Tunguska and the Taurid complex.• The underground complex had been built in summer, the construction teams working in three shifts round the dock.leisure complexes• Nowadays, prisons are like leisure complexes, with snooker tables and televisions.• For clubs in decent pitches though, offices or leisure complexes on part of their land can also provide cash.Origin complex1 (1600-1700) Latin complexus, past participle of complecti “to include (many different things)”, from com- ( → COM-) + plectere ( → PLEXUS)

com·plex1 adjectivecom·plex2 noun →n COLLOCATIONS1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable  

understand difficult many and parts Corpus of consisting often different to

complex

I

com‧plex¹ S3 W2 AC /ˈkɒmpleks $ ˌkɑːmˈpleks◂/ adjective1. consisting of many different parts and often difficult to understand
   SYN  complicated
   OPP  simple:
    a complex system of highways
    Photosynthesis is a highly complex process.
    Peter seemed to have an instant understanding of the most complex issues.
    It was a very complex relationship between two complex people.
2. technical a complex word or sentence contains a main part and one or more other parts ⇨ compound
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ complicated consisting of a lot of different parts or details and therefore difficult to understand: The rules of the game seemed very complicated. | I didn’t realize programming the VCR would be so complicated. | The brain is like a very powerful, very complicated computer. | a complicated issue
   ▪ complex a complex process, relationship etc is difficult to understand because it has a lot of parts that are all connected in different ways: The chemical processes involved are extremely complex. | the complex relationship between government and the media
   ▪ elaborate having a lot of parts or details and very carefully planned, but often more complicated than is necessary: Mike had worked out an elaborate system for categorizing his collection of DVDs. | The plan to kidnap her had become even more elaborate. | Sociologists have been coming up with increasingly elaborate theories to explain unsafe sexual practices.
   ▪ involved very long and complicated – use this especially about something that you think should be made simpler: The system for choosing candidates is very involved, and I won’t go into it here. | Adopting a child can be a long involved process.
   ▪ convoluted too complicated and difficult to understand – used especially about someone’s language or arguments, or about a system: convoluted sentences | Procedures for government funding have become more convoluted. | James’s books are full of long paragraphs and convoluted sentences, which many people do not find appealing.
   ▪ intricate having a lot of small parts or details – used especially about something that is cleverly designed or made: Lasers are used to cut intricate designs in the metal. | The farmers use an intricate system of drainage canals. | the intricate workings of a watch | intricate patterns of coloured marble

II

com‧plex² AC /ˈkɒmpleks $ ˈkɑːm-/ noun [countable]
1. a group of buildings, or a large building with many parts, used for a particular purpose:
    The town has one of the best leisure complexes in the country.
    a three-story apartment complex
2. a complex of something formal a large number of things which are closely related:
    China was a complex of different societies.
3. an emotional problem in which someone is unnecessarily anxious about something or thinks too much about something:
    I used to have a complex about my looks.
⇨ inferiority complex, Oedipus complex, persecution complex
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ types of complex
   ▪ a leisure complex (=where you can play sports or relax) The new leisure complex includes a swimming pool, a sauna and a gym.
   ▪ a shopping complex Some old buildings were pulled down to make space for a new shopping complex.
   ▪ a sports complex The sports complex also has six tennis courts.
   ▪ an entertainment complex (=with cinemas, restaurants and other places to go) There are plans for an entertainment complex with cinemas and a bowling alley.
   ▪ a holiday complex (=one where people go for holidays) The lively holiday complex has plenty of nightclubs, bars, and restaurants.
   ▪ a housing/residential complex (=for people to live in) Architects designed the residential complexes near the beach.
   ▪ a retail/commercial complex (=for shops, businesses, or industries) a ten-screen movie theater and retail complex
   ▪ an office/museum/hospital etc complex a 120-acre office complex near Las Vegas
   ▪ an apartment complex American English a luxury apartment complex on Fulton Street
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ building a structure such as a house, church, or factory, that has a roof and walls: The college needs money to pay for new buildings.
   ▪ property formal a building or piece of land, or both together - used especially when talking about buying and selling buildings or land: The next property they looked at was too small. | The company received permission to build six residential properties on the land.
   ▪ premises formal the buildings and land that a shop, restaurant, company etc uses: You are not allowed to drink alcohol on the premises. | The bread is baked on the premises.
   ▪ complex a group of buildings, or a large building with many parts, used for a particular purpose: The town has one of the best leisure complexes in the country. | a luxury apartment complex
   ▪ development a group of new buildings that have all been planned and built together on the same piece of land: a new housing development | a huge industrial development
   ▪ block especially British English a large tall building that contains apartments or offices, or is part of a school, university, or hospital: an office block | a block of flats | a tower block (=a very tall building - often used disapprovingly) | My next lecture is in the science block.
   ▪ facility especially American English a place or building used for a particular activity or industry: a research facility on campus
   ▪ edifice formal a large building, especially one that is tall and impressive - a very formal use: Their head office was an imposing edifice.
   ▪ structure formal something that has been made to stand upright - used especially when talking about buildings: The stone arch is one of the town’s oldest existing structures. | an immense barn-like structure | Mogul calls this building, designed by Donald and John Parkinson in 1928, ‘the most important structure in Los Angeles of the 20th century.’