complete

views updated May 11 2018

com·plete / kəmˈplēt/ • adj. 1. having all the necessary or appropriate parts: a complete list of courses offered by the college. ∎  (of all the works of a particular author) collected together in one volume or edition: the complete works of Shakespeare. ∎  entire; full: I only managed one complete term at school. ∎  having run its full course; finished: the restoration of the chapel is complete.2. (often used for emphasis) to the greatest extent or degree; total: a complete ban on smoking their marriage came as a complete surprise to me. ∎  (also com·pleat) chiefly humorous skilled at every aspect of a particular activity; consummate: these articles are for the compleat mathematician.• v. [tr.] 1. finish making or doing: he completed his Ph.D. in 1983. ∎  Football (esp. of a quarterback) successfully throw (a forward pass) to a receiver.2. make (something) whole or perfect: he only needed one thing to complete his happiness. ∎  write the required information on (a form or questionnaire).PHRASES: complete with having something as an additional part or feature.DERIVATIVES: com·plete·ness n.com·plet·er n.

complete

views updated May 17 2018

complete entire, finished, perfect. XIV. — (O)F. complet or L. complētus, pp. of complēre fill up, finish, fulfil, f. COM- (intensive) + *plē-, base of plēnus FULL.
Hence complete vb. XVI. So completion, completive XVII. — late L.