complex

Bridgezipf 4.86

Pronunciation

/ˈkɒmpleks/(KOM-pleks)

Part of speech

adjectiveneutral

Chinese

复杂的；错综的（由许多相互关联的部分组成，难以理解或处理）

Definition

Consisting of many interconnected parts; not simple; difficult to understand or deal with.

Word family

  • complexity/kəmˈpleksɪti/(n)复杂性
  • complexly/ˈkɒmpleksli/(adv)复杂地

Collocations

  • highly complex
  • complex issue
  • complex system
  • complex relationship
  • complex process
  • increasingly complex

Examples

  1. 1.The regulatory environment has become increasingly complex, requiring specialist legal advice for even routine decisions.
  2. 2.The relationship between diet, exercise, and mental health is complex and not yet fully understood by researchers.

Synonyms

  • complicated/ˈkɒmplɪkeɪtɪd/— difficult to understand
  • intricate/ˈɪntrɪkɪt/— having many small connected parts
  • multifaceted/ˌmʌltiˈfæsɪtɪd/— having many aspects

Etymology

from Latin "complexus," past participle of "complecti" (to embrace, encircle)