com ‧ pli ‧ cate /ˈkɒmpləkeɪt, ˈkɒmplɪkeɪt $ ˈkɑːm-/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ complicate ; noun : ↑ complication ; adjective : ↑ complicated ≠ UNCOMPLICATED ]
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: past participle of complicare , from com- ( ⇨ COM- ) + plicare 'to fold' ]
1 . to make a problem or situation more difficult:
The situation is complicated by the fact that I’ve got to work late on Friday.
To complicate matters further, differences exist as regards legal systems, trade customs, and language.
2 . [usually passive] to make an illness worse:
a heart condition complicated by pneumonia