complication — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The act or process of complicating.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

2. The state of being complicated; intricate or confused relation of parts; complexity.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

3. A person who doesn't fit in with the main scheme of things; an interloper.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

4. A disease or diseases, or adventitious circumstances or conditions, coexistent with and modifying a primary disease, but not necessarily connected with it.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

5. A feature beyond basic time display in a timepiece.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Broader terms

   bells and whistles

   Examples

   Obsessed, he was after a watch that contained the greatest number of complications in the boldest combinations in the smallest space imaginable.

   In their final year, each student must make their own watch with a complication—from a tourbillon to a chiming mode to having a date display.

6. A twisting or intertwining.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   the snaky complication in the Caduceus or rod of Hermes.

Noun

1. the act or process of complicating

   Broader terms

   hindrancehinderanceinterference

2. a situation or condition that is complex or confused

   Broader terms

   situationstate of affairs

   Examples

   her coming was a serious complication

3. any disease or disorder that occurs during the course of (or because of) another disease

   Broader terms

   disease

   Examples

   bed sores are a common complication in cases of paralysis

4. a development that complicates a situation

   Synonyms

   ramification

   Broader terms

   development

   Examples

   the court's decision had many unforeseen ramifications

5. puzzling complexity

   Synonyms

   complicatednessknottinesstortuousness

   Broader terms

   complexitycomplexness