complement
com·ple·ment • n. / ˈkämpləmənt/ 1. a thing that completes or brings to perfection: the libretto proved a perfect complement to the music.2. [in sing.] a number or quantity of something required to make a group complete: we have a full complement of staff. ∎ the number of people required to crew a ship: almost half the ship's complement of 322 were wounded. ∎ Geom. the amount in degrees by which a given angle is less than 90°. ∎ Math. the members of a set that are not members of a given subset.3. Gram. 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 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).4. Physiol. a group of proteins present in blood plasma and tissue fluid that combine with an antigen–antibody complex to bring about the lysis of foreign cells.• v. / -ˌment; -mənt/ [tr.] add to (something) in a way that enhances or improves it; make perfect: a classic blazer complements a look that's stylish or casual. ∎ add to or make complete.DERIVATIVES: com·ple·men·tal / ˌkämpləˈmentl/ adj.