Complex

Part of Speech

Adjective, Noun

Pronunciation

British English: /ˈkɒm.pleks/ or /kəmˈpleks/

American English: /ˈkɑːm.pleks/ or /kəmˈpleks/

Definitions

• As an adjective: Consisting of many interconnected parts; complicated or intricate.
• As a noun: A group of related things, a set of ideas influencing someone's thoughts or behaviors, or a system of interconnected elements.

Usage Examples

• The engineering problem was highly complex and required extensive research.
• She has a superiority complex that makes her difficult to work with.
• The industrial complex includes multiple factories and offices.

Etymology

From Latin complexus ("embraced, entwined"), from complecti ("to embrace, encircle"). The modern sense of "intricate, complicated" evolved in the 17th century.

Synonyms

• Complicated
• Intricate
• Elaborate
• Convoluted

Antonyms

• Simple
• Basic
• Straightforward

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• In American English, both /ˈkɑːm.pleks/ and /kəmˈpleks/ are used, with stress variations.
• British English favors /ˈkɒm.pleks/ for the noun and /kəmˈpleks/ for the adjective.

Historical Usage

The word "complex" has been used since the 17th century to describe complicated structures, and in psychology, it became widely known through Carl Jung’s theories on mental complexes in the early 20th century.

Cultural Nuances

In psychology, "complex" refers to unconscious mental patterns, such as the "Oedipus complex." In architecture, "complex" describes interconnected buildings, and in science, it denotes compound structures.

More Information

The term "complex" spans multiple disciplines, including psychology, mathematics, and chemistry, signifying interrelated structures or ideas. Its usage in modern language extends to describing emotions, behaviors, and intricate systems.