complete
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Related to complete: complete blood count, Complete the square
complete
finished, ended, concluded; having all parts or elements: a complete set of encyclopedias
Not to be confused with:
compleat – highly skilled and accomplished in all aspects: The compleat writer is adept in many genres.
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
com·plete
(kəm-plēt′)adj. com·plet·er, com·plet·est
1. Having all necessary or normal parts, components, or steps; entire: a complete medical history; a complete set of dishes.
2. Botany Having all principal parts, namely, the sepals, petals, stamens, and pistil or pistils. Used of a flower.
3. Having come to an end; concluded: The renovation of the kitchen is complete.
4.
a. Absolute; thorough: complete control; a complete mystery.
b. Accomplished; consummate: a complete musician.
5. Football Caught in bounds by a receiver: a complete pass.
tr.v. com·plet·ed, com·plet·ing, com·pletes
1. To bring to a finish or an end: She has completed her studies.
2. To make whole, with all necessary elements or parts: A second child would complete their family. Fill in the blanks to complete the form.
3. Football To throw (a forward pass) that is caught in bounds by a receiver.
[Middle English complet, from Latin complētus, past participle of complēre, to fill out : com-, intensive pref.; see com- + plēre, to fill; see pelə- in Indo-European roots.]
com·plete′ly adv.
com·plete′ness n.
com·ple′tive adj.
Synonyms: complete, finish, close, end, conclude, terminate
These verbs mean to bring to a natural or proper stopping point. Complete and finish suggest the final stage in an undertaking: "Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime" (Reinhold Niebuhr)."Give us the tools, and we will finish the job" (Winston S. Churchill).
Close and end both imply bringing something ongoing to a conclusion: The band closed the concert with an encore. We ended the meal with fruit and cheese. End can also mean putting a stop to something, often with finality: "Many advocates say [putting] laptops in schools is a promising way to end the digital divide between the races" (Char Simons)."It left him more exposed than ever, forcing him to end the career he loved" (Molly Worthen).
Conclude is more formal than close and end: The author concluded the article by restating the major points. Terminate suggests reaching an established limit: The playing of the national anthem terminated the station's broadcast for the night. It also indicates the dissolution of a formal arrangement: The firm terminated my contract yesterday.
These verbs mean to bring to a natural or proper stopping point. Complete and finish suggest the final stage in an undertaking: "Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime" (Reinhold Niebuhr)."Give us the tools, and we will finish the job" (Winston S. Churchill).
Close and end both imply bringing something ongoing to a conclusion: The band closed the concert with an encore. We ended the meal with fruit and cheese. End can also mean putting a stop to something, often with finality: "Many advocates say [putting] laptops in schools is a promising way to end the digital divide between the races" (Char Simons)."It left him more exposed than ever, forcing him to end the career he loved" (Molly Worthen).
Conclude is more formal than close and end: The author concluded the article by restating the major points. Terminate suggests reaching an established limit: The playing of the national anthem terminated the station's broadcast for the night. It also indicates the dissolution of a formal arrangement: The firm terminated my contract yesterday.
Usage Note: Although complete is often held to be an absolute term like perfect or chief, and supposedly not subject to comparison, it is often modified by words like more and less in standard usage. As far back as 1965, a majority of the Usage Panel accepted the example His book is the most complete treatment of the subject. See Usage Note at absolute.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
complete
(kəmˈpliːt)adj
1. having every necessary part or element; entire
2. ended; finished
3. (prenominal) thorough; absolute: he is a complete rogue.
4. perfect in quality or kind: he is a complete scholar.
5. (Logic) (of a logical system) constituted such that a contradiction arises on the addition of any proposition that cannot be deduced from the axioms of the system. Compare consistent5
6. (Botany) (of flowers) having sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels
7. archaic expert or skilled; accomplished
vb
8. (tr) to make whole or perfect
9. (tr) to end; finish
10. (Law) (intr) (in land law) to pay any outstanding balance on a contract for the conveyance of land in exchange for the title deeds, so that the ownership of the land changes hands
11. (American Football) American football (tr) (of a quarterback) to make (a forward pass) successfully
[C14: from Latin complētus, past participle of complēre to fill up; see complement]
comˈpletely adv
comˈpleteness n
comˈpleter n
comˈpletion n
comˈpletive adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
com•plete
(kəmˈplit)adj., v. -plet•ed, -plet•ing. adj.
1. having all parts or elements; lacking nothing; whole; entire; full: a complete set of golf clubs.
2. finished; ended; concluded: a complete orbit.
3. having all the required or customary characteristics, skills, or the like; consummate: a complete scholar.
4. thorough; total; undivided, uncompromised, or unqualified: a complete victory; a complete stranger.
5. (of a subject or predicate) having all modifying or complementary elements included: The complete subject of The dappled pony gazed over the fence is the dappled pony. Compare simple (def. 18a).
6. (of a forward pass in football) caught by a receiver.
7. accomplished; skilled; expert.
v.t. 8. to make whole, entire, or perfect: Hiking boots complete the outdoor look.
9. to bring to an end; finish: to complete a task.
10. to consummate; fulfill.
11. to execute (a forward pass) successfully.
[1325–75; Middle English (< Middle French) < Latin complētus, past participle of complēre to fill up, fulfill =com- com- + plēre to fill]
com•plet′a•ble, adj.
com•plet′ed•ness, n.
com•plete′ly, adv.
com•plete′ness, n.
com•plet′er, n.
com•ple′tive, adj.
com•ple′tive•ly, adv.
syn: complete, entire, intact suggest that there is no lack or defect, nor has any part been removed. complete implies that a unit has all its parts, fully developed or perfected; it may also mean that a process or purpose has been carried to fulfillment: a complete explanation; a complete assignment. entire describes something having all its elements in an unbroken unity: an entire book. intact implies that something has remained in its original condition, complete and unimpaired: a package delivered intact.
usage: Occasionally there are objections to modifying complete with qualifiers like almost, more, most, nearly, and quite, because they suggest that complete is relative rather than absolute: the most complete list available. However, such uses are fully standard and occur regularly in all varieties of spoken and written English. See also perfect, unique.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
complete
Complete is usually an adjective. For some of its meanings, you can use words like more and very in front of it.
1. used to mean 'as great as possible'
You usually use complete to say that something is as great in degree, extent, or amount as possible.
You need a complete change of diet.
They were in complete agreement.
When complete has this meaning, you do not use words like more or very in front of it.
2. used to talk about contents
Complete is also used to say that something contains all the parts that it should contain.
I have a complete medical kit.
...a complete set of all her novels.
When two things do not contain all the parts that they should contain but one thing has more parts than the other, you can say that the first thing is more complete than the second one.
For a more complete picture of David's progress we must depend on his own assessment.
Similarly, if something does not contain all the parts that it should contain but contains more parts than anything else of its kind, you can say that it is the most complete thing of its kind.
...the most complete skeleton so far unearthed from that period.
3. used to mean 'thorough'
Complete is sometimes used to mean thorough. When complete has this meaning, you can use words like very and more in front of it.
She followed her mother's very complete instructions on how to organize a funeral.
You ought to have a more complete check-up if you are really thinking of going abroad.
4. used to mean 'finished'
Complete is also used to say that something such as a task or new building has been finished.
It'll be two years before the process is complete.
...blocks of luxury flats, complete but half-empty.
When complete has this meaning, you do not use words like 'more' or 'very' in front of it.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
complete
Past participle: completed
Gerund: completing
| Imperative |
|---|
| complete |
| complete |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. | complete - come or bring to a finish or an end; "He finished the dishes"; "She completed the requirements for her Master's Degree"; "The fastest runner finished the race in just over 2 hours; others finished in over 4 hours" close - finish a game in baseball by protecting a lead; "The relief pitcher closed with two runs in the second inning" terminate, end - bring to an end or halt; "She ended their friendship when she found out that he had once been convicted of a crime"; "The attack on Poland terminated the relatively peaceful period after WW I" top off, top - finish up or conclude; "They topped off their dinner with a cognac"; "top the evening with champagne" finish off, finish up, get through, polish off, wrap up, clear up, mop up - finish a task completely; "I finally got through this homework assignment" see through - remain with until completion; "I must see the job through" finish out, round out - fill out; "These studies round out the results of many years of research" follow out, follow up, put through, carry out, follow through, implement, go through - pursue to a conclusion or bring to a successful issue; "Did he go through with the treatment?"; "He implemented a new economic plan"; "She followed up his recommendations with a written proposal" accomplish, carry out, carry through, fulfil, fulfill, action, execute - put in effect; "carry out a task"; "execute the decision of the people"; "He actioned the operation" |
| 2. | complete - bring to a whole, with all the necessary parts or elements; "A child would complete the family" | |
| 3. | complete - complete or carry out; "discharge one's duties" accomplish, carry out, carry through, fulfil, fulfill, action, execute - put in effect; "carry out a task"; "execute the decision of the people"; "He actioned the operation" | |
| 4. |  complete - complete a pass football, football game - any of various games played with a ball (round or oval) in which two teams try to kick or carry or propel the ball into each other's goal play - participate in games or sport; "We played hockey all afternoon"; "play cards"; "Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches" | |
| 5. |  complete - write all the required information onto a form; "fill out this questionnaire, please!"; "make out a form" | |
| Adj. | 1. | complete - having every necessary or normal part or component or step; "a complete meal"; "a complete wardrobe"; "a complete set of the Britannica"; "a complete set of china"; "a complete defeat"; "a complete accounting" whole - including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete; "gave his whole attention"; "a whole wardrobe for the tropics"; "the whole hog"; "a whole week"; "the baby cried the whole trip home"; "a whole loaf of bread" comprehensive - including all or everything; "comprehensive coverage"; "a comprehensive history of the revolution"; "a comprehensive survey"; "a comprehensive education" incomplete, uncomplete - not complete or total; not completed; "an incomplete account of his life"; "political consequences of incomplete military success"; "an incomplete forward pass" |
| 2. | complete - perfect and complete in every respect; having all necessary qualities; "a complete gentleman"; "consummate happiness"; "a consummate performance" perfect - being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish; "a perfect circle"; "a perfect reproduction"; "perfect happiness"; "perfect manners"; "a perfect specimen"; "a perfect day" | |
| 3. |  complete - highly skilled; "an accomplished pianist"; "a complete musician"skilled - having or showing or requiring special skill; "only the most skilled gymnasts make an Olympic team"; "a skilled surgeon has many years of training and experience"; "a skilled reconstruction of her damaged elbow"; "a skilled trade" | |
| 4. | complete - without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers; "an arrant fool"; "a complete coward"; "a consummate fool"; "a double-dyed villain"; "gross negligence"; "a perfect idiot"; "pure folly"; "what a sodding mess"; "stark staring mad"; "a thoroughgoing villain"; "utter nonsense"; "the unadulterated truth" arrant, double-dyed, sodding, utter, thoroughgoing, unadulterated, staring, perfect, pure, everlasting, consummate, stark, gross unmitigated - not diminished or moderated in intensity or severity; sometimes used as an intensifier; "unmitigated suffering"; "an unmitigated horror"; "an unmitigated lie" | |
| 5. |  complete - having come or been brought to a conclusion; "the harvesting was complete"; "the affair is over, ended, finished"; "the abruptly terminated interview"finished - ended or brought to an end; "are you finished?"; "gave me the finished manuscript" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
complete
adjective
1. total, perfect, absolute, utter, outright, thorough, consummate, out-and-out, unmitigated, dyed-in-the-wool, thoroughgoing, deep-dyed (usually derogatory) He made me look like a complete idiot.
3. entire, full, whole, intact, unbroken, faultless, undivided, unimpaired Scientists have found the oldest complete skeleton of an ape-like man.
entire spoilt, incomplete, deficient, imperfect
entire spoilt, incomplete, deficient, imperfect
4. unabridged, full, whole, entire, full-length, uncut, unexpurgated, uncondensed the complete works of Shakespeare
5. finished, done, ended, completed, achieved, concluded, fulfilled, accomplished The work of restoring the farmhouse is complete.
finished unsettled, unfinished, inconclusive, unaccomplished
finished unsettled, unfinished, inconclusive, unaccomplished
6. perfect, accomplish, finish off, round off, crown, cap the stickers needed to complete the collection
verb perfect mar, spoil
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
complete
adjective3. Not shortened by omissions:
6. Covering all aspects with painstaking accuracy:
7. Completely such, without qualification or exception:
absolute, all-out, arrant, consummate, crashing, damned, dead, downright, flat, out-and-out, outright, perfect, plain, pure, sheer, thorough, thoroughgoing, total, unbounded, unequivocal, unlimited, unmitigated, unqualified, unrelieved, unreserved, utter.
Chiefly British: blooming.
1. To bring or come to a natural or proper end:
2. To supply what is lacking:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
أكملانتهىتامتام، كامِلشامِل
dokončitnaprostýúplnýzkompletovatcelkový
færdigfuldendefuldførefuldstændiggrundig
täysi
potpun
algjörbúinn, kláraîurheill, fullkominnljúka, klára
全くの完了する完成する
완전한
baigimaspilnumasužbaigimasužbaigtumas
pilnīgotpilnīgspilns
complet
ozajstnýskompletizovať
celotencelovitdokončankončatipopoln
fullständigkomplett
สมบูรณ์
đầy đủ
complete
[kəmˈpliːt]A. ADJ
1. (= whole) → entero
a complete office block was burnt to the ground → un bloque de oficinas entero quedó reducido a cenizas
a complete office block was burnt to the ground → un bloque de oficinas entero quedó reducido a cenizas
2. (= finished) → terminado
the work of restoring the farmhouse is complete → la restauración de la granja está terminada
the work of restoring the farmhouse is complete → la restauración de la granja está terminada
3. (= total) [control, lack] → total, absoluto; [change] → total; [surprise] → auténtico
in complete agreement → totalmente de acuerdo, en completo acuerdo
in complete contrast to sth/sb → todo lo contrario que algo/algn
it's a complete disaster → es un completo desastre, es un desastre total
the man's a complete idiot → es un auténtico idiota
it is a complete mistake to think that → es totalmente erróneo pensar que ...
he is the complete opposite of me → no nos parecemos en nada
to my complete satisfaction → para mi completa or total satisfacción
in complete agreement → totalmente de acuerdo, en completo acuerdo
in complete contrast to sth/sb → todo lo contrario que algo/algn
it's a complete disaster → es un completo desastre, es un desastre total
the man's a complete idiot → es un auténtico idiota
it is a complete mistake to think that → es totalmente erróneo pensar que ...
he is the complete opposite of me → no nos parecemos en nada
to my complete satisfaction → para mi completa or total satisfacción
4. (= full) [list, set, group] → completo
the Complete Works of Shakespeare → las Obras Completas de Shakespeare
at last her happiness was complete → por fin, su dicha era completa
no garden is complete without a bed of rose bushes → ningún jardín puede considerarse completo si no tiene un arriate de rosales
the Complete Works of Shakespeare → las Obras Completas de Shakespeare
at last her happiness was complete → por fin, su dicha era completa
no garden is complete without a bed of rose bushes → ningún jardín puede considerarse completo si no tiene un arriate de rosales
5. (= all-round) [novelist, footballer] → completo, perfecto
he is the complete film-maker → es el director de cine completo or perfecto
he is the complete film-maker → es el director de cine completo or perfecto
6. complete with:a mansion complete with swimming pool → una mansión con piscina y todo
he arrived complete with equipment → llegó con todo su equipo
the diary comes complete with a ballpoint pen → la agenda viene con bolígrafo incluido
it comes complete with instructions → viene con sus correspondientes instrucciones
he arrived complete with equipment → llegó con todo su equipo
the diary comes complete with a ballpoint pen → la agenda viene con bolígrafo incluido
it comes complete with instructions → viene con sus correspondientes instrucciones
B. VT
1. (= make up) [+ set, collection, team] → completar; [+ misfortune, happiness] → colmar
a grey silk tie completed the outfit → una corbata de seda gris completaba el conjunto
a grey silk tie completed the outfit → una corbata de seda gris completaba el conjunto
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
complete
[kəmˈpliːt] adj [change, surprise, disaster, failure] → complet/ète; [lack] → total(e)
It's a complete disaster → C'est un désastre complet.
a complete waste of time → une perte de temps totale
complete with → avec
to come complete with ... → être pourvu(e) de ...
It's a complete disaster → C'est un désastre complet.
a complete waste of time → une perte de temps totale
complete with → avec
to come complete with ... → être pourvu(e) de ...
vt
(= conclude, seal) [+ sale, deal] → conclure
(= fill in) [+ form] → remplir
[+ outfit] → parachever
A black silk tie completed the outfit → Une cravate en soie noire parachevait la tenue.
A black silk tie completed the outfit → Une cravate en soie noire parachevait la tenue.
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
complete
adj
(= entire, whole) → ganz attr; set also, wardrobe, deck of cards → vollständig, komplett; (= having the required numbers) → vollzählig; edition → Gesamt-; my happiness/disappointment was complete → mein Glück/meine Enttäuschung war perfekt or vollkommen; my life is now complete → mein Leben ist erfüllt; our victory was complete → unser Sieg war vollkommen; the complete works of Shakespeare → die gesammelten Werke Shakespeares; no classical collection is complete without Beethoven’s ninth symphony → eine Sammlung klassischer Musik wäre ohne Beethovens neunte Sinfonie nicht zu denken; a very complete account → ein sehr umfassender or detaillierter Bericht; are we complete? → sind wir vollzählig?
attr (= total, absolute) → völlig; failure, beginner, disaster, flop also, victory → total; surprise, shambles also → komplett; satisfaction also, approval → voll; we were complete strangers → wir waren uns or einander völlig fremd; we were in complete agreement → wir stimmten völlig überein
(= finished) → fertig; his novel is not yet complete → sein Roman ist noch nicht abgeschlossen; my life’s work is now complete → mein Lebenswerk ist nun vollbracht
complete with → komplett mit; he came complete with rucksack and boots → er erschien komplett ausgerüstet mit Rucksack und Stiefeln
sportsman, gardener etc → perfekt
vt
(= make whole) collection, set → vervollständigen, komplettieren; team → vollzählig machen; education, meal → abrunden; to complete our numbers → damit wir vollzählig sind; that completes my collection → damit ist meine Sammlung vollständig
(= finish) → beenden, abschließen, zum Abschluss or zu Ende bringen; building, work → fertigstellen; prison sentence → verbüßen; complete this phrase → ergänzen Sie diesen Ausspruch; it’s not completed yet → es ist noch nicht fertig
form, questionnaire → ausfüllen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
complete
[kəmˈpliːt]1. adj (whole) → completo/a; (finished) → completo/a, finito/a
complete with → completo/a di
it's a complete disaster → è un vero disastro
complete with → completo/a di
it's a complete disaster → è un vero disastro
2. vt (set, collection) → completare; (piece of work) → finire, completare; (fill in, form) → riempire
and to complete my misfortunes → e per colmo di sfortuna
and to complete my misfortunes → e per colmo di sfortuna
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
complete
(kəmˈpliːt) adjective1. whole; with nothing missing. a complete set of Shakespeare's plays.
2. thorough. My car needs a complete overhaul; a complete surprise.
3. finished. My picture will soon be complete.
verb to finish; to make complete. When will he complete the job?; This stamp completes my collection.
comˈpletely adverbI am not completely satisfied.
comˈpleteness nouncomˈpletion (-ʃən) noun
finishing or state of being finished. You will be paid on completion of the work.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
complete
→ كَامِل naprostý hel vollständig πλήρης completo täysi complet potpun completo 全くの 완전한 compleet fullstendig kompletny completo полный fullständig สมบูรณ์ tam đầy đủ 完全的Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
complete
adj completoEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.