complement

/ˈkäm-plə-mənt/

Middle English, "means of completing, consummation," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, "carrying out" (also continental Middle French), borrowed from Latin complēmentum "something that fills out or completes," from complēre "to fill, make up, carry to completion" + -mentum -ment

noun

  1. something that fills up, completes, or makes better or perfect

  2. the full quantity, number, or assortment needed or included

  3. the whole force or personnel of a ship

The scarf is a perfect complement to her outfit.

verb

  1. to complete or enhance by providing something additional : to be complementary to

  2. compliment

  3. to exchange formal courtesies

The illustrations complement the text.

noun

  1. the process of binding serum complement to the product formed by the union of an antibody and the antigen for which it is specific that occurs when complement is added to a suitable mixture of such an antibody and antigen and that is the basis of some tests to detect the presence of specific antibodies or antigens