| 释义 |
adjective | noun complexcomplex1 /kɑmˈplɛks, kəm-, ˈkɑmplɛks/ ●●○ W3 AWL adjective ETYMOLOGYcomplex1Origin: 1600-1700 Latin complexus, past participle of complecti to include (many different things) adverbs► highly/extremely/enormously complex Dreaming is a highly complex brain activity. ► increasingly complex Modern weapons are becoming increasingly complex and difficult to handle. ► overly/unnecessarily complex (=more complex than it needs to be) The payment system is unnecessarily complex. nouns► a complex system/network A complex system of pipes is used to carry water to the building. ► a complex process The guide takes you through the complex process of buying a home. ► a complex problem/issue International trade is a highly complex issue. Many complex problems remain to be solved. ► a complex subject The article gives a very brief description of a complex subject. ► a complex relationship The book explores the complex relationship between science and religion. ► a complex pattern/structure The tropical rainforest has a complex structure, with many levels. ► a complex series The French Revolution was a complex series of events. THESAURUSdifficult to understand or deal with, because of the many details or parts involved► complicateddifficult to understand or deal with, because of the many details or parts involved: The new law is complicated and confusing. The new TV came with a complicated set of instructions. ► complex difficult to understand with a lot of different parts that are all connected in different ways: Scientists are still trying to understand the complex relationship between the genes that cause the disease. ► elaborate having lots of parts or details that are carefully planned, but often more complicated than is necessary: Josh and Maria have made elaborate plans for their wedding. ► involved very long and complicated and difficult to understand. Used especially about stories: The movie was so long and involved that I started to lose interest in it. ► convoluted too complicated and confusing. Used especially about language, arguments, or stories: He tends to use long convoluted sentences, which make the book difficult to read. ► intricate very well designed, or made with a lot of small parts or details: The rug has an intricate design. not easy to do, understand, or deal with► difficultnot easy to do, understand, or deal with: His accent was difficult to understand. A lot of students find calculus difficult. ► hard making you tired because you have to use a lot of physical or mental effort: Chopping wood is hard work. The midterms were harder than I expected. ► tough very difficult to do or deal with. Tough sounds more informal than difficult: Doctors have to make tough decisions about who to treat first. ► awkward difficult to deal with or handle: The big pieces of wood were awkward to carry. ► complicated/complex difficult to understand because of having a lot of different parts: The rules of the game are very complicated. ► tricky informal complicated and full of problems: The contract negotiations have been tricky. ► delicate needing to be dealt with carefully or sensitively in order to avoid problems or failure: You must understand that this is a delicate situation, and I cannot discuss it publicly. ► challenging difficult in a way that is interesting and enjoyable: The class is intended to be challenging for students. ► demanding difficult and needing a lot of time, effort, and skill. Used about jobs: Being a nurse is a demanding job. ► daunting so difficult that you do not feel confident about being able to do it: The task may seem a little daunting. ► formidable formal seeming very difficult and needing a lot of effort or skill to do: The city still has a formidable problem of homelessness to deal with. ► grueling/arduous difficult and tiring and continuing for a long time: The race is a grueling 24-hour run across the desert. ► laborious formal difficult and long and needing to be done very slowly and carefully: Making a movie is a laborious process involving a huge amount of work. difficult► hard not easy to do, understand, or deal with: Chemistry was one of the hardest classes I’ve ever taken. The hard part is going to be telling my mother. ► difficult difficult means the same as hard but is a little more formal: It was a difficult test, so I was surprised I passed. ► tough very difficult to do or deal with: Doctors have to make tough decisions about who to treat first. ► complicated/complex difficult to understand because of having a lot of different parts: The rules of the game are very complicated. ► tricky complicated and full of problems: The contract negotiations have been tricky. ► challenging difficult in a way that is interesting and enjoyable: The class is intended to be challenging for students. ► daunting formal so difficult that you do not feel confident about being able to do it: The task may seem a little daunting. ► formidable formal seeming very difficult and needing a lot of skill to deal with: The city still has a formidable problem of homelessness to deal with. 1consisting of many different parts or details and often difficult to understand SYN complicated OPP simple: The camera is a highly complex piece of equipment. A complex network of roads connects the two cities. The issue is very complex.► see thesaurus at complicated, difficult, hard12eng. lang. arts a)a complex sentence is made up of at least one independent clause and one dependent clause. For example, the sentence “The picnic was canceled because of the rain” is a complex sentence. b)a complex word contains a main part and one or more other parts. For example, the word “disadvantaged” is a complex adjective. → see also compound3 [Origin: 1600–1700 Latin complexus, past participle of complecti to include (many different things)]COLLOCATIONSadverbshighly/extremely/enormously complex Dreaming is a highly complex brain activity.increasingly complex Modern weapons are becoming increasingly complex and difficult to handle.overly/unnecessarily complex (=more complex than it needs to be) The payment system is unnecessarily complex.nounsa complex system/network A complex system of pipes is used to carry water to the building.a complex process The guide takes you through the complex process of buying a home.a complex problem/issue International trade is a highly complex issue. Many complex problems remain to be solved.a complex subject The article gives a very brief description of a complex subject.a complex relationship The book explores the complex relationship between science and religion.a complex pattern/structure The tropical rainforest has a complex structure, with many levels.a complex series The French Revolution was a complex series of events. adjective | noun complexcomplex2 /ˈkɑmplɛks/ ●●○ AWL noun [countable] ► has a complex about Jack has a complex about being short. 1a group of buildings or one large building with many parts used for a particular purpose: an apartment complex a six-screen movie complex2an emotional problem in which someone is too anxious about something or thinks too much about something: Jack has a complex about being short. → see also Electra complex, inferiority complex, Oedipus complex |