Complement /(?)/

Com·ple·ment

Complement

n.
  1. That which fills up or completes; the quantity or number required to fill a thing or make it complete.
  2. That which is required to supply a deficiency, or to complete a symmetrical whole.
    History is the complement of poetry.
    — Sir J. Stephen.
  3. Full quantity, number, or amount; a complete set; completeness.
    To exceed his complement and number appointed him which was one hundred and twenty persons.
    — Hakluyt.
  4. A second quantity added to a given quantity to make it equal to a third given quantity. (Math.)
  5. Something added for ornamentation; an accessory. [Obs.]
    Without vain art or curious complements.
  6. The whole working force of a vessel. (Naut.)
  7. The interval wanting to complete the octave; -- the fourth is the complement of the fifth, the sixth of the third. (Mus.)
  8. A compliment. [Obs.]

Phrases & Compounds
Arithmetical compliment of a logarithm
See under Logarithm.
Arithmetical complement of a number
the difference between that number and the next higher power of 10; as, 4 is the complement of 6, and 16 of 84.
Complement of an arc
the difference between that arc or angle and 90°.
Complement of a parallelogram
See Gnomon.
In her complement
said of the moon when represented as full.

Complement

v. t.
  1. To supply a lack; to supplement. [R.]
  2. To compliment. [Obs.]