compliment
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Related to compliment: complement
compliment
an expression of admiration; praise; regards: My compliments to the chef.
Not to be confused with:
complement – something that completes or brings to perfection: Wine complements a dinner.
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
com·pli·ment
(kŏm′plə-mənt)n.
1. An expression of praise, admiration, or congratulation.
2. A formal act of civility, courtesy, or respect.
3. compliments Good wishes; regards: Extend my compliments to your parents. See Usage Note at complement.
tr.v. com·pli·ment·ed, com·pli·ment·ing, com·pli·ments
1. To pay a compliment to.
2. To show fondness, regard, or respect for by giving a gift or performing a favor.
[French, from Italian complimento, from Spanish cumplimiento, from cumplir, to complete, from Latin complēre, to fill up : com-, intensive pref.; see com- + plēre, to fill; see pelə- in Indo-European roots.]
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.
compliment
n
1. a remark or act expressing respect, admiration, etc
2. (usually plural) a greeting of respect or regard
vb (tr)
3. to express admiration of; congratulate or commend
4. to express or show respect or regard for, esp by a gift
[C17: from French, from Italian complimento, from Spanish cumplimiento, from cumplir to complete, do what is fitting, be polite]
Usage: Avoid confusion with complement
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
com•pli•ment
(n. ˈkɒm plə mənt; v. -ˌmɛnt)n.
1. an expression of praise, commendation, or admiration.
2. a formal act or gesture of civility, respect, or regard: The mayor paid her the compliment of a police escort.
3. compliments, a courteous greeting; good wishes; regards: to send one's compliments.
v.t. 4. to pay a compliment to; commend; praise.
5. to show kindness or regard for by a gift or other favor.
6. to congratulate; felicitate.
v.i. 7. to pay compliments.
[1570–80; < French < Italian complimento < Sp cumplimiento <cumpli- (see comply); earlier same sp. as complement]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Compliment
of sycophants—Madden.Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
complement
– complimentThese words can both be verbs or nouns. When they are verbs, they are pronounced /'kɒmplɪment/. When they are nouns, they are pronounced /'kɒmplɪmənt/.
1. 'complement'
If one thing complements another, the two things increase each other's good qualities when they are brought together.
Nutmeg, parsley and cider all complement the flavour of these beans well.
Current advances in hardware development nicely complement British software skills.
2. 'compliment'
If you compliment someone, you tell them that you admire something that they have or something that they have done.
They complimented me on the way I looked.
She is to be complimented for handling the situation so well.
A compliment is something that you do or say to someone to show your admiration for them.
She took his acceptance as a great compliment.
You say that you pay someone a compliment.
He knew that he had just been paid a great compliment.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
compliment
Past participle: complimented
Gerund: complimenting
| Imperative |
|---|
| compliment |
| compliment |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  compliment - a remark (or act) expressing praise and admirationcongratulations, extolment, kudos, praise - an expression of approval and commendation; "he always appreciated praise for his work" trade-last - a compliment that I heard about you that I offer to trade for a compliment you have heard about me flattery - excessive or insincere praise |
| Verb | 1. | compliment - say something to someone that expresses praise; "He complimented her on her last physics paper" praise - express approval of; "The parents praised their children for their academic performance" |
| 2. | compliment - express respect or esteem for greet - send greetings to |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
compliment
noun
1. praise, honour, tribute, courtesy, admiration, bouquet, flattery, eulogy She blushed, but accepted the compliment with good grace.
praise criticism, complaint, condemnation, reproach, sideswipe, disparagement
praise criticism, complaint, condemnation, reproach, sideswipe, disparagement
plural noun
1. greetings, regards, respects, remembrances, good wishes, salutation Give my compliments to your lovely wife when you write home.
noun greetings insult
1. congratulations, praise, commendation That was an excellent meal - my compliments to the chef.
verb
1. praise, flatter, salute, congratulate, pay tribute to, commend, laud, extol, crack up (informal), pat on the back, sing the praises of, wax lyrical about, big up (slang, chiefly Caribbean), speak highly of They complimented me on my performance.
praise blast, condemn, flame (informal), insult, put down, criticize, reproach, disparage, decry, tear into (informal), diss (slang, chiefly U.S.), lambast(e), reprehend
praise blast, condemn, flame (informal), insult, put down, criticize, reproach, disparage, decry, tear into (informal), diss (slang, chiefly U.S.), lambast(e), reprehend
Usage: Compliment is sometimes confused with complement.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
compliment
noun1. An expression of admiration or congratulation:
2. An expression of warm approval:
3. An act requiring special generosity:
1. To pay a compliment to:
Idiom: take off one's hat to.
The 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
مُجَامَلَةمَديح، إطْراء، ثَناءيُجَامِلُيَمْتَدِح، يُطْري لِ، يُثْني عَلى
komplimentpoklonachválitdělat poklony
komplimentkomplimentererose
kehuakohteliaisuus
komplimentkomplimentirati
bókbókolbókot mond
hrósalofsyrîi, gullhamrar
ほめことばほめる
칭찬칭찬하다
girtikomplimentasnemokamaspagiriamasissu geriausiais linkėjimais
izteikt komplimentuskompliments
komplimentkomplimenteregratulere
pochváliť
hvalitipoklon
ge komplimangkomplimang
คำชมเชยชมเชย
khen ngợilời khen
compliment
A. [ˈkɒmplɪmənt] N
1. (= respect) → cumplido m; (= flirtation) → piropo m; (= flattery) → halago m
what a nice compliment! → ¡qué detalle!
that was meant as a compliment → lo dije con buena intención
to pay sb a compliment (respectful) → hacer cumplidos a algn; (amorous) → echar piropos a algn; (= flatter) → halagar a algn
to return the compliment → devolver el cumplido
I take it as a compliment that → me halaga (el) que ...
what a nice compliment! → ¡qué detalle!
that was meant as a compliment → lo dije con buena intención
to pay sb a compliment (respectful) → hacer cumplidos a algn; (amorous) → echar piropos a algn; (= flatter) → halagar a algn
to return the compliment → devolver el cumplido
I take it as a compliment that → me halaga (el) que ...
2. compliments (= greetings) → saludos mpl
my compliments to the chef → mi enhorabuena al cocinero
the compliments of the season → felicidades fpl
to send one's compliments to sb → enviar saludos a algn
"with compliments" → "con un atento saludo"
with the compliments of the management → obsequio de la casa
with the compliments of Mr Pearce → con un atento saludo del Sr. Pearce, de parte del Sr. Pearce
with the author's compliments → homenaje m or obsequio m del autor
my compliments to the chef → mi enhorabuena al cocinero
the compliments of the season → felicidades fpl
to send one's compliments to sb → enviar saludos a algn
"with compliments" → "con un atento saludo"
with the compliments of the management → obsequio de la casa
with the compliments of Mr Pearce → con un atento saludo del Sr. Pearce, de parte del Sr. Pearce
with the author's compliments → homenaje m or obsequio m del autor
B. [ˈkɒmplɪment] VT to compliment sb on sth/on doing sth → felicitar a algn por algo/por conseguir algo
they complimented me on my Spanish → me felicitaron por mi español
they complimented me on my Spanish → me felicitaron por mi español
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
compliment
[ˈkɒmplɪment] vt → complimenter
to compliment sb on sth → complimenter qn sur qch
They complimented me on my French → Ils m'ont complimenté sur mon français.
to compliment sb for doing sth → complimenter qn d'avoir fait qch
to compliment sb on sth → complimenter qn sur qch
They complimented me on my French → Ils m'ont complimenté sur mon français.
to compliment sb for doing sth → complimenter qn d'avoir fait qch
[ˈkɒmplɪmənt] n (= flattering remark) → compliment m
to pay sb a compliment → faire un compliment à qn, adresser un compliment à qn
to return the compliment → retourner le compliment
to pay sb a compliment → faire un compliment à qn, adresser un compliment à qn
to return the compliment → retourner le compliment
compliments npl (in polite expressions) → compliments mpl, hommages mpl, vœux mpl
with my compliments → avec mes compliments
"with compliments" (on letter, memo, compliments slip) → "avec nos compliments"
with my compliments → avec mes compliments
"with compliments" (on letter, memo, compliments slip) → "avec nos compliments"
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
compliment
n
→ Kompliment nt → (on zu, wegen); to pay somebody a compliment → jdm ein Kompliment machen; that’s quite a compliment, coming from you → wenn Sie das sagen, heißt das schon etwas or ist das wahrhaftig ein Kompliment; (give) my compliments to the chef → mein Lob or Kompliment dem Koch/der Köchin
compliments pl (form) → Grüße pl; give him my compliments → empfehlen Sie mich ihm (dated form); to pay one’s compliments to somebody (on arrival) → jdn begrüßen; (on departure) → sich jdm empfehlen (dated form); (= visit) → jdm einen Höflichkeitsbesuch abstatten (form); the compliments of the season → frohes Fest; “with the compliments of Mr X/the management” → „mit den besten Empfehlungen von Herrn X/der Geschäftsleitung“; “with the compliments of the publishers” → „zur gefälligen Kenntnisnahme, der Verlag“
vt → ein Kompliment/Komplimente machen (+dat) → (on wegen, zu)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
compliment
[n ˈkɒmplɪˌmənt; vb ˈkɒmplɪmɛnt]1. n
2. vt to compliment sb (on sth/on doing sth) → congratularsi or complimentarsi con qn (per qc/per aver fatto qc)
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
compliment
(ˈkompləmənt) noun an expression of praise or flattery. He's always paying her compliments.
(kompliˈment) verb to praise or flatter. He complimented her on her cooking.
ˌcompliˈmentary (-ˈmen-) adjective (negative uncomplimentary).
1. flattering or praising. complimentary remarks.
2. given free. a complimentary ticket.
with compliments used when sending a gift etc. `With compliments from a secret admirer'.
to pay a compliment (not complement).
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
compliment
→ مُجَامَلَة, يُجَامِلُ chválit, kompliment kompliment, komplimentere ein Kompliment machen, Kompliment κάνω φιλοφρόνηση, φιλοφρόνηση halagar, halago kehua, kohteliaisuus compliment, complimenter kompliment, komplimentirati complimentarsi, complimento ほめことば, ほめる 칭찬, 칭찬하다 compliment, complimenteren gratulere, kompliment komplement, pochwalić cumprimentar, cumprimento, elogio делать комплимент, комплимент ge komplimang, komplimang คำชมเชย, ชมเชย iltifat, iltifat etmek khen ngợi, lời khen 称赞Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009