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The definition of complete is someone or something that is finished or whole and that is not missing anything or any parts.

(adjective)

An example of complete is a finished puzzle that has all 100 pieces.

To complete is to finish something, to make something whole or see a task through to the end.

(verb)

An example of complete is when you finish your homework.

See complete in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

lacking no component part; full; whole; entire
brought to a conclusion; ended; finished
thorough; absolute: to have complete confidence in someone
accomplished; skilled; consummate

Origin: ME & OFr complet < L completus, pp. of complere, to fill up, complete < com-, intens. + plere, to fill: see full

transitive verb completed, completing

to end; finish; conclude
to make whole, full, or perfect
to successfully execute or effect: to complete a telephone call, complete a forward pass

Related Forms:

completely adverb
completeness noun

See complete in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective com·plet·er, com·plet·est

Having all necessary or normal parts, components, or steps; entire: a complete meal.
Botany Having all principal parts, namely, the sepals, petals, stamens, and pistil or pistils. Used of a flower.
Having come to an end; concluded.
Absolute; total: “In Cairo I have seen buildings which were falling down as they were being put up, buildings whose incompletion was complete” (William H. Gass).
a. Skilled; accomplished: a complete musician.
b. Thorough; consummate: a complete coward.
Football Caught in bounds by a receiver: a complete pass.

transitive verb com·plet·ed, com·plet·ing, com·pletes

To bring to a finish or an end: She has completed her studies.
To make whole, with all necessary elements or parts: A second child would complete their family.
Football To throw (a forward pass) so as to be caught by a receiver.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English complet

Origin: , from Latin complētus

Origin: , past participle of complēre, to fill out

Origin: : com-, intensive pref.; see com-

Origin: + plēre, to fill; see pelə-¹ in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

com·pleteˈly adverb

com·pleteˈness noun

com·pleˈtive adjective

Usage Note: Complete is sometimes considered absolute like perfect or chief, which is not subject to comparison. Nonetheless, it can be qualified as more or less, for example. A majority of the Usage Panel accepts the example His book is the most complete treatment of the subject. See Usage Note at absolute.

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