Complex

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkɒm.plɛks/

Definitions

1. A system or structure made up of many interconnected and intricate parts that work together
2. A system characterized by multiple interconnected elements that create intricate relationships and interactions among them
3. An arrangement that includes various components or factors that are intricately linked and contribute to an overall difficulty or intricacy

Etymology: "Complex" arrives in English from French "complexe," which took it from the Latin "complexus," the past participle of "complector," meaning "to entwine, encircle, compass, infold." The Latin verb joins "com-," meaning "together," with "plectō," "to weave or braid." So the earliest sense is literal: things woven or braided together, with the parts so intertwined that they cannot be easily separated. That physical picture of braided strands explains the modern sense. A thing made of many interlocking parts is "complex" in the same way a tangled braid is, and the word's meaning shifted from the woven object to the intricate structure itself. The Latin root "plectō" also gave English words like "plectrum," a tool for plucking strings, which shows how the same idea of striking or twisting carried into very different uses.

Synonyms: complicated, intricate, elaborate, difficult, confusing

Antonyms: simple, easy, straightforward, clear, uncomplicated