complex

Academic Word List, sublist 2.

About 89.07 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. adjective Made up of multiple parts; composite; not simple.

   a complex being; a complex idea

2. adjective Not simple, easy, or straightforward; complicated.
3. adjective Having the form a + bi, where a and b are real numbers and i is (by definition) the imaginary square root of −1.

   complex number

4. adjective Whose range is a subset of the complex numbers.

   complex function

5. adjective Whose coefficients are complex numbers; defined over the field of complex numbers.

   complex polynomial

6. adjective A curve, polygon or other figure that crosses or intersects itself.
7. noun A network of interconnected systems.

   military–industrial complex

8. noun A collection of buildings with a common purpose, such as a university or military base.

Similar words

involved intricate complicated convoluted tortuous labyrinthian labyrinthine mazy interlinking interlacing

Often followed by

and of than in is to systems as system

Word family

complexation complexations complexed complexer complexes complexest complexing complexities complexity complexly