complete Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb come or bring to a finish or an end; others finished in over 4 hours"
    finish.
    • He finished the dishes
    • She completed the requirements for her Master's Degree
    • The fastest runner finished the race in just over 2 hours
  2. verb bring to a whole, with all the necessary parts or elements
    • A child would complete the family
  3. verb complete or carry out
    discharge; dispatch.
    • discharge one's duties
  4. verb complete a pass
    nail.
  5. verb write all the required information onto a form
    fill in; fill out; make out.
    • fill out this questionnaire, please!
    • make out a form
  6. adjective having every necessary or normal part or component or step
    • a complete meal
    • a complete wardrobe
    • a complete set of the Britannica
    • a complete set of china
    • a complete defeat
    • a complete accounting
  7. adjective satellite perfect and complete in every respect; having all necessary qualities
    consummate.
    • a complete gentleman
    • consummate happiness
    • a consummate performance
  8. adjective satellite highly skilled
    accomplished.
    • an accomplished pianist
    • a complete musician
  9. adjective satellite without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers
    perfect; double-dyed; gross; arrant; unadulterated; sodding; stark; consummate; pure; utter; thoroughgoing; everlasting; staring.
    • an arrant fool
    • a complete coward
    • a consummate fool
    • a double-dyed villain
    • gross negligence
    • a perfect idiot
    • pure folly
    • what a sodding mess
    • stark staring mad
    • a thoroughgoing villain
    • utter nonsense
    • the unadulterated truth
  10. adjective satellite having come or been brought to a conclusion
    concluded; terminated; over; ended; all over.
    • the harvesting was complete
    • the affair is over, ended, finished
    • the abruptly terminated interview

WordNet

Com"plete" adjective
Etymology
L. completus, p. p. of complere to fill. See Full, a., and cf. Comply, Compline.
Definitions
  1. Filled up; with no part or element lacking; free from deficienty; entire; perfect; consummate. "Complete perfections." Milton.
    Ye are complete in him. Col. ii. 10.
    That thou, dead corse, again in complete steel Revesit'st thus the glimpses of the moon. Shak.
  2. Finished; ended; concluded; completed; as, the edifice is complete.
    This course of vanity almost complete. Prior.
  3. (Bot.) Having all the parts or organs which belong to it or to the typical form; having calyx, corolla, stamens, and pistil. Syn. -- See Whole.
Com*plete" transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Completed; present participle & verbal noun Completing
Definitions
  1. To bring to a state in which there is no deficiency; to perfect; to consummate; to accomplish; to fulfill; to finish; as, to complete a task, or a poem; to complete a course of education.
    Bred only and completed to the taste Of lustful appetence. Milton.
    And, to complete her bliss, a fool for mate. Pope.
    Syn. -- To perform; execute; terminate; conclude; finish; end; fill up; achieve; realize; effect; consummate; accomplish; effectuate; fulfill; bring to pass.

Webster 1913