adj.
Pronunciation: ˌ käm-pl ə - ' men-t( ə -)r ē
Function: adjective
Date: 1829
1 : relating to or constituting one of a pair of contrasting colors that produce a neutral color when combined in suitable proportions
2 : serving to fill out or complete
3 : mutually supplying each other's lack
4 : being complements of each other < complementary acute angles>
5 : characterized by the capacity for precise pairing of purine and pyrimidine bases between strands of DNA and sometimes RNA such that the structure of one strand determines the other
– com · ple · men · ta · ri · ly \ - ' men-t( ə -)r ə -l ē , -( ˌ )men- ' ter- ə -l ē , - ' ta-r ə - \ adverb
– com · ple · men · ta · ri · ness \ - ' men-t( ə -)r ē -n ə s \ noun
– complementary noun