complain

complain
com|plain
W3S2 [kəmˈpleın] v
[Date: 1300-1400; : Old French; Origin: complaindre, from Vulgar Latin complangere, from Latin com- ( COM-) + plangere ( PLAINT)]
1.) [I,T not in passive]
to say that you are annoyed, not satisfied, or unhappy about something or someone
→↑complaint
Residents are complaining because traffic in the area has increased.
'You never ask my opinion about anything,' Rod complained.
complain (that)
She complained that no one had been at the airport to meet her.
complain about
She often complains about not feeling appreciated at work.
complain of
Several women have complained of sexual harassment.
complain to
Neighbours complained to the police about the dogs barking.
Employees complained bitterly about working conditions.
2.) (I/you/he etc) can't complain
spoken used to say that a situation is satisfactory, even though there may be a few problems
I make a good living. I can't complain.
complain of [complain of sth] phr v
to say that you feel ill or have a pain in a part of your body
Dan's been complaining of severe headaches.

Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • complain — com·plain vi: to make a complaint Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. complain I ( …   Law dictionary

  • complain — UK US /kəmˈpleɪn/ verb [I] ► to tell someone that something is wrong or not satisfactory, and that you are annoyed about it: complain about sth »Workers complain about the conditions in which they are forced to work. complain that »The chief… …   Financial and business terms

  • Complain — Com*plain (k[o^]m*pl[=a]n ), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Complained} (k[o^]m*pl[=a]nd ); p. pr. & vb. n. {Complaining}.] [F. complaindre, LL. complangere; com + L. plangere to strike, beat, to beat the breast or head as a sign of grief, to lament. See… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Complain — Com*plain , v. t. To lament; to bewail. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] They might the grievance inwardly complain. Daniel. [1913 Webster] By chaste Lucrece s soul that late complain d Her wrongs to us. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • complain — ► VERB 1) express dissatisfaction or annoyance. 2) (complain of) state that one is suffering from (a symptom of illness). DERIVATIVES complainer noun. ORIGIN Old French complaindre, from Latin complangere bewail …   English terms dictionary

  • complain — (v.) late 14c., find fault, lament, from stem of O.Fr. complaindre to lament (12c.), from V.L. *complangere, originally to beat the breast, from L. com , intensive prefix (see COM (Cf. com )), + plangere to strike, beat the breast (see PLAGUE (Cf …   Etymology dictionary

  • complain — [v] grumble about accuse, ascribe, attack, beef*, bellyache*, bemoan, bewail, bitch, carp, cavil, charge, contravene, criticize, defy, demur, denounce, deplore, deprecate, differ, disagree, disapprove, dissent, expostulate, find fault, fret, fuss …   New thesaurus

  • complain — [kəm plān′] vi. [ME compleinen < OFr complaindre < VL * complangere, orig., to beat the breast < L com , intens. + plangere, to strike: see PLAINT] 1. to claim or express pain, displeasure, etc. 2. to find fault; declare annoyance 3. to… …   English World dictionary

  • complain — verb 1 (intransitive, transitive not in passive) to say that you are annoyed, dissatisfied, or unhappy about something or someone: They ve already been given a 10% raise so why are they complaining? | You never ask my opinion about anything, Rod… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • complain */*/*/ — UK [kəmˈpleɪn] / US verb [intransitive/transitive] Word forms complain : present tense I/you/we/they complain he/she/it complains present participle complaining past tense complained past participle complained to say that you are not satisfied… …   English dictionary

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