complete

com•plete

[[t]kəmˈplit[/t]] adj. v. -plet•ed, -plet•ing

1) having all parts or elements; lacking nothing; whole; entire; full:

a complete set of golf clubs[/ex]

2) finished; ended; concluded:

a complete orbit[/ex]

3) having all the required or customary characteristics, skills, or the like; consummate:

a complete scholar[/ex]

4) thorough; total; undivided, uncompromised, or unqualified:

a complete victory; a complete stranger[/ex]

5) gram. (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 18), a)

6) spo (of a forward pass in football) caught by a receiver

7) accomplished; skilled; expert

8) to make whole, entire, or perfect:

Hiking boots complete the outdoor look[/ex]

9) to bring to an end; finish:

to complete a task[/ex]

10) to consummate; fulfill

11) spo to execute (a forward pass) successfully

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Etymology: 1325–75; ME (< MF) < L complētus, ptp. 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