complementary
gb/kˌɑmpləmˈɛntɹi/ us/kˌɑmpləmˈɛntɹi/
B2
Inglés
~ 6800
Acepciones
0 acepciones
unknown
B2
property
1
forming a complete or helpful pair
Describing two things that are different but go well together and make each other better or more complete.
Patrón de uso:
[something] is complementary to [something]
Error frecuente:
Learners often confuse “complementary” with “complimentary.” “Complementary” means that two things complete or improve each other. “Complimentary” means either (1) free of charge, as in “complimentary breakfast,” or (2) expressing praise, as in “a complimentary remark.” Spelling is the only difference in writing, but the meanings are not related.
Sinónimos
compatible (Focuses more on being able to work together without problems, less on completing or balancing each other.)
|
harmonious (Emphasizes smooth, pleasant combination, often with a softer or more emotional tone.)
Antónimos
conflicting (Suggests that two things work against each other rather than fitting together well.)
|
incompatible (Stresses that two things cannot work or exist together successfully.)
Colocaciones
complementary skills
|complementary strengths
|complementary roles
|complementary colors
|complementary products
|complementary partner
Temas
daily life
|work
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Ejemplos
- Their complementary skills made them a very effective team.
- The designer chose complementary colors to make the logo stand out.
- We have different but complementary roles in the project.
- Her calm personality is complementary to his more energetic style.
- The two apps offer complementary features when used together.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- Red and green are complementary colors.
- Our skills are different but complementary.
- This new service is complementary to our main product.
- Their personalities are complementary, so they work well together.
- These two foods have complementary flavors.
adjective
B2
property
2
used with, not instead of, standard medicine
Describing medicine or treatment that is used together with normal hospital or doctor treatment, not instead of it.
Patrón de uso:
complementary [treatment / therapy / medicine]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes think “complementary medicine” means medicine that is free or cheap, confusing it with “complimentary.” It actually means treatments that are used together with normal medical care.
Sinónimos
holistic (Focuses on treating the whole person, not just symptoms; often overlaps but is broader and less specific about being used with conventional medicine.)
Antónimos
conventional (Refers to standard, widely accepted medical treatments, as opposed to additional or alternative practices.)
Colocaciones
complementary medicine
|complementary therapy
|complementary treatment
|complementary approaches
|complementary and alternative medicine
Temas
health
|medicine
|lifestyle
Ejemplos
- Many patients use complementary therapies such as acupuncture alongside chemotherapy.
- The clinic offers complementary medicine to support conventional cancer treatment.
- Yoga is sometimes recommended as a complementary practice for managing stress.
- She is researching how complementary treatments can improve quality of life for chronic pain patients.
- The hospital now has a unit dedicated to complementary and alternative medicine.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- He uses complementary medicine with his normal treatment.
- Some people take herbs as a complementary therapy.
- The doctor said massage could be a complementary treatment.
- This clinic offers complementary and alternative medicine.
- Yoga can be a complementary therapy for back pain.
adjective
technical
C1
property
3
angles whose measures total 90°
Describing two angles that together make 90 degrees.
Patrón de uso:
[angles] are complementary
Error frecuente:
Learners often confuse “complementary” angles (90° total) with “supplementary” angles (180° total). Remember: C comes before S, and 90 comes before 180.
Colocaciones
complementary angles
|pair of complementary angles
|two complementary angles
|are complementary
|find the complementary angle
Temas
math
|education
|science
Ejemplos
- In this triangle, the two acute angles are complementary.
- If one angle is 30 degrees and the other is 60 degrees, they are complementary angles.
- Students were asked to find the measure of the angle complementary to 25 degrees.
- Right triangles always contain a right angle and two complementary angles.
- These two angles are not complementary because their sum is greater than 90 degrees.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- Two angles are complementary if they add to 90 degrees.
- A 30-degree angle and a 60-degree angle are complementary.
- The teacher drew two complementary angles on the board.
- We had to find the angle that is complementary to 40 degrees.
- Complementary angles always add up to 90 degrees.
adjective
technical
C1
property
4
DNA or RNA bases that pair exactly
Describing a DNA or RNA part that matches another part exactly so they join together using normal base-pair rules.
Patrón de uso:
complementary [strand / sequence / base]
Colocaciones
complementary base
|complementary strand
|complementary sequence
|complementary DNA
|complementary RNA
|complementary base pairing
Temas
science
|biology
|medicine
|health
Ejemplos
- A pairs with T and C pairs with G because they are complementary bases.
- During DNA replication, a complementary strand is built from the original template.
- The probe sequence is designed to bind only to its complementary DNA.
- Complementary base pairing ensures accurate copying of genetic information.
- The virus uses a complementary RNA strand as a template for replication.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- In DNA, A and T are complementary bases.
- Each DNA strand has a complementary strand.
- The new DNA strand is complementary to the old strand.
- C and G are complementary bases in DNA.
- The test uses a complementary DNA sequence to find the virus.
adjective
technical
C2
property
5
goods typically used together
In economics, describing products that people usually use together, so when they buy more of one, they also buy more of the other.
Patrón de uso:
complementary [goods / products]
Sinónimos
joint (In economic texts, “joint products” or “jointly demanded” can overlap, but “complementary” is more specific to demand relationships.)
Antónimos
substitute (In economics, a substitute good replaces another good, while a complementary good is used together with it.)
Colocaciones
complementary goods
|complementary products
|complementary services
|strongly complementary
|weakly complementary
|complementary in consumption
Temas
business
|economics
|marketing
|finance
Ejemplos
- Printers and ink cartridges are classic examples of complementary goods.
- The company launched a set of complementary products to increase overall sales.
- As the price of smartphones falls, demand for complementary services such as mobile apps may rise.
- Economists studied how changes in fuel prices affected demand for complementary goods like cars.
- Complementary products can be bundled to encourage higher customer spending.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- Coffee and sugar are often complementary goods.
- Printers and paper are complementary products.
- In economics, some goods are substitutes and some are complementary.
- Game consoles and video games are complementary products.
- The firm sells complementary services with its main product.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
complementary
AFI
GB/kˌɑmpləmˈɛntɹi/
US/kˌɑmpləmˈɛntɹi/
Sílabas y acento
com - ple - ment - ary (4 sílabas)
Stress on 3rd syllable (ment)
Formas de la palabra
Adjective
- Base: complementary
Familia de palabras
Core family
complement
noun B2
Advanced or less common
complementarity
noun
Expresiones
complementary angles
1/kˌɑmpləmˈɛntɹi ˈæŋɡəlz/
fixed phrase
technical
two angles totaling 90 degrees
Two angles that together make 90 degrees.
Ejemplos
- In the diagram, angles A and B are complementary angles.
- If one of two complementary angles is 20 degrees, the other must be 70 degrees.
- The teacher asked the class to find pairs of complementary angles in the figure.
complementary colors
1/kˌɑmpləmˈɛntɹi kˈʌlɚz/
fixed phrase
color pairs that contrast and balance
Two colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel and look bright and strong when placed side by side.
Ejemplos
- The artist used complementary colors to make the painting more vibrant.
- Red and green are complementary colors often seen in holiday decorations.
- Designers often choose complementary colors to create eye-catching logos.
complementary DNA
1/kˌɑmpləmˈɛntɹi dˈi ˈɛn ˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
technical
DNA strand that pairs exactly
A DNA strand whose order of bases matches another strand so that each base can pair with its partner base.
Ejemplos
- The lab created complementary DNA from the viral RNA sample.
- Each DNA strand in the double helix has a complementary DNA strand.
- The test uses complementary DNA to detect specific gene sequences.
complementary goods
1/kˌɑmpləmˈɛntɹi ɡˈʊdz/
fixed phrase
technical
economics: products used together
In economics, two products that people normally use together, so when they buy more of one, they also buy more of the other.
Ejemplos
- Economists often use coffee and sugar as an example of complementary goods.
- The drop in car prices led to higher sales of complementary goods like tires and car stereos.
- Printers and ink cartridges are classic complementary goods.
complementary medicine
1/kˌɑmpləmˈɛntɹi mˈɛdɪsən/
fixed phrase
additional treatments alongside standard care
Treatments such as herbs, massage, or acupuncture that people use together with normal doctor or hospital treatment.
Ejemplos
- She turned to complementary medicine to help manage the side effects of chemotherapy.
- The hospital now offers complementary medicine, including acupuncture and massage therapy.
- Some doctors are open to complementary medicine as long as it does not replace essential treatment.
complementary skills
1/kˌɑmpləmˈɛntɹi skˈɪlz/
fixed phrase
different abilities that work well together
Abilities that are not the same but fit together well and make a team or partnership stronger.
Ejemplos
- The startup founders have complementary skills in technology and marketing.
- We are looking for someone whose complementary skills can fill the gaps in our team.
- Their complementary skills allowed them to handle both the creative and financial sides of the project.
complementary therapy
1/kˌɑmpləmˈɛntɹi θˈɛɹəpi/
fixed phrase
extra treatment used with main care
A treatment like massage, meditation, or aromatherapy that is used together with normal medical care to help the patient feel better.
Ejemplos
- Massage is often used as a complementary therapy for cancer patients.
- The clinic provides several complementary therapies, such as reflexology and Reiki.
- Complementary therapy can help with relaxation and stress reduction.