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complicate

Syllabification: (com·pli·cate)
Pronunciation: /ˈkämpləˌkāt/

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Definition of complicate

verb

[with object]
  • make (something) more difficult or confusing by causing it to be more complex:middlemen can complicate the process (as adjective complicating)a complicating factor
  • Medicine introduce complications in (an existing condition):smoking may complicate pregnancy

Origin:

early 17th century (in the sense 'combine, entangle, intertwine'): from Latin complicat- 'folded together', from the verb complicare, from com- 'together' + plicare 'to fold'

complicate in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of complicate in the British & World English dictionary

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