complementary
UK /ˌkɒmplɪˈmɛnt(ə)ɹi/ · US /ˌkɑmplɪˈmɛnt(ə)ɹi/ adjective, noun
Forms complementaries
- adjective Acting as a complement; making up a whole with something else. “I'll provide you with some complementary notes to help you study.”
- adjective (genetics) Of the specific pairings of the bases in DNA and RNA.
- adjective (physics) Pertaining to pairs of properties in quantum mechanics that are inversely related to each other, such as speed and position, or energy and time. (See also Heisenberg uncertainty principle.)
- noun A complementary colour.
- noun (obsolete) One skilled in compliments.
- noun An angle which adds with another to equal ninety degrees.
Synonyms
Etymology
From complement + -ary. Piecewise doublet of complimentary.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Serving to fill out or to complete; as, complementary numbers.
- noun One skilled in compliments. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
Etymology [See Complimentary.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “complementary”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details