complain
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Related to complain: complaint
com·plain
(kəm-plān′)intr.v. com·plained, com·plain·ing, com·plains
1. To express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment.
2. To make a formal accusation or bring a formal charge; file a complaint.
[Middle English compleinen, from Old French complaindre, complaign-, from Vulgar Latin *complangere : Latin com-, intensive pref.; see com- + Latin plangere, to lament; see plāk- in Indo-European roots.]
com·plain′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
complain
(kəmˈpleɪn)vb (intr)
1. to express resentment, displeasure, etc, esp habitually; grumble
2. (foll by of) to state the presence of pain, illness, etc, esp in the hope of sympathy: she complained of a headache.
[C14: from Old French complaindre, from Vulgar Latin complangere (unattested), from Latin com- (intensive) + plangere to bewail]
comˈplainer n
comˈplainingly adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
com•plain
(kəmˈpleɪn)v.i.
1. to express dissatisfaction, resentment, pain, grief, etc.; find fault.
2. to make a formal accusation: You must complain to the police about this vandalism.
[1350–1400; Middle English compleinen < Anglo-French compleign-, s. of compleindre, Old French complaindre < Vulgar Latin *complangere= Latin com- com- + plangere to lament; see plaint]
com•plain′a•ble, adj.
com•plain′er, n.
com•plain′ing•ly, adv.
syn: complain, grumble, whine are terms for expressing dissatisfaction or discomfort. To complain is to protest against or lament a condition or wrong: to complain about high prices. To grumble is to utter surly, ill-natured complaints half to oneself: to grumble about the service. To whine is to complain in a meanspirited, objectionable way, using a nasal tone; it often suggests persistence: to whine like a spoiled child.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
complain
1. 'complain about'
If you complain about something, you say that it is wrong or unsatisfactory.
Mothers complained about the lack of play space.
She never complains about the weather.
Be Careful!
Don't use 'over' or 'on' after complain. Don't say, for example, 'Mothers complained over the lack of play space' or 'She never complains on the weather'.
2. 'complain of'
If you complain of a pain, you say that you have it.
He complained of a headache.
Many patients complain of a lack of energy.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
complain
Past participle: complained
Gerund: complaining
| Imperative |
|---|
| complain |
| complain |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. | complain - express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness; "My mother complains all day"; "She has a lot to kick about" hen-peck, nag, peck - bother persistently with trivial complaints; "She nags her husband all day long" backbite - say mean things gnarl, grumble, murmur, mutter, croak - make complaining remarks or noises under one's breath; "she grumbles when she feels overworked" grouch, grumble, scold - show one's unhappiness or critical attitude; "He scolded about anything that he thought was wrong"; "We grumbled about the increased work load" protest - utter words of protest repine - express discontent bemoan, bewail, deplore, lament - regret strongly; "I deplore this hostile action"; "we lamented the loss of benefits" report - complain about; make a charge against; "I reported her to the supervisor" bleat - talk whiningly |
| 2. | complain - make a formal accusation; bring a formal charge; "The plaintiff's lawyer complained that he defendant had physically abused his client" charge - make an accusatory claim; "The defense attorney charged that the jurors were biased" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
complain
verb find fault, moan, grumble, whinge (informal), beef (slang), carp, fuss, bitch (slang), groan, grieve, lament, whine, growl, deplore, grouse, gripe (informal), bemoan, bleat, put the boot in (slang), bewail, kick up a fuss (informal), grouch (informal), bellyache (slang), kvetch (U.S. slang) She's always complaining about her husband's laziness.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
complain
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
اشتكىتذمريَتَذَمَّر، يَتَشَكّىيَشْكويَشْكو مِن
stěžovat sistěžovat/naříkat si na
klageklage overbeklage sig over
valittaa
žaliti se
elpanaszolpanaszkodik
kvartakvarta, kveina
とやかく言うぶつぶつ言うぼやく不平を言う文句する
불평하다
nusiskundimasnusiskųstiskundasskųstis
iesniegt sūdzībusūdzētiesžēloties
pritožiti se
klaga
ร้องทุกข์
şikâyet etmekyakınmak
phàn nàn
complain
[kəmˈpleɪn] VI1. (= grumble) → quejarse (about, of, to de a) to complain that → quejarse de que
they complained to the neighbours → se quejaron a los vecinos
I can't complain → yo no me quejo
they complained to the neighbours → se quejaron a los vecinos
I can't complain → yo no me quejo
2. (= make a formal complaint) → reclamar (about, to por ante) we're going to complain to the manager → vamos a reclamar al director
you should complain to the police → tendrías que denunciarlo a la policía
you should complain to the police → tendrías que denunciarlo a la policía
3. (Med) to complain of → quejarse de
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
complain
[kəmˈpleɪn] vi → se plaindreto complain about sb/sth → se plaindre de qn/qch
We complained about the noise → Nous nous sommes plaints du bruit.
to complain to sb → se plaindre à qn
I'm going to complain to the manager → Je vais me plaindre au directeur.
to complain to sb about sth → se plaindre à qn de qch
The neighbours complained to the police about the noise → Les voisins se sont plaints du bruit à la police.
complain of
vt fus [+ pain] → se plaindre deCollins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
complain
vi → sich beklagen, klagen (→ about über +acc); (= to make a formal complaint) → sich beschweren, Beschwerde einlegen (form) (→ about über +acc, → to bei); to complain that … → sich darüber beklagen/beschweren, dass …; (I) can’t complain (inf) → ich kann nicht klagen (inf); stop complaining! → beklag dich nicht dauernd!; to complain of something → über etw (acc) → klagen; to complain of not having enough time → über Zeitmangel klagen; she’s always complaining → sie muss sich immer beklagen, sie hat immer etwas zu klagen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
complain
[kəmˈpleɪn] vi to complain (to sb about sth) → lamentarsi (con qn di qc), lagnarsi (con qn di qc); (make a formal complaint) → fare un reclamo (a qn per qc), reclamare (con qn per qc)complain of vi + prep → lamentarsi di (Med) → accusare
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
complain
(kəmˈplein) verb1. to state one's displeasure, dissatisfaction etc. I'm going to complain to the police about the noise.
2. (with of) to state that one has (pain, discomfort etc). He's complaining of difficulty in breathing.
comˈplaint noun1. (a statement of one's) dissatisfaction. The customer made a complaint about the lack of hygiene in the food shop.
2. a sickness, disease, disorder etc. He's always suffering from some complaint or other.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
complain
→ يَشْكو stěžovat si klage beklagen (sich) παραπονιέμαι quejarse valittaa se plaindre žaliti se reclamare 不平を言う 불평하다 klagen klage naskarżyć się reclamar жаловаться klaga ร้องทุกข์ yakınmak phàn nàn 抱怨Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
complain
v. quejarse, lamentarse.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
Collins Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
complain
vi quejarseEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.