COMPLIMENT

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does compliment mean? 

• COMPLIMENT (noun)
  The noun COMPLIMENT has 1 sense:

1. a remark (or act) expressing praise and admiration

  Familiarity information: COMPLIMENT used as a noun is very rare.

• COMPLIMENT (verb)
  The verb COMPLIMENT has 2 senses:

1. say something to someone that expresses praise

2. express respect or esteem for

  Familiarity information: COMPLIMENT used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• COMPLIMENT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A remark (or act) expressing praise and admiration

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("compliment" is a kind of...):

congratulations; extolment; kudos; praise (an expression of approval and commendation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "compliment"):

trade-last (a compliment that I heard about you that I offer to trade for a compliment you have heard about me)

flattery (excessive or insincere praise)

fulsomeness; smarm; unction (excessive but superficial compliments given with affected charm)

Derivation:

compliment (say something to someone that expresses praise)

complimentary (conveying or resembling a compliment)

• COMPLIMENT (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they compliment ... he / she / it compliments
Past simple: complimented   
Past participle: complimented   
-ing form: complimenting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Say something to someone that expresses praise

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

compliment; congratulate

Context example:

He complimented her on her last physics paper

Hypernyms (to "compliment" is one way to...):

praise (express approval of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP

Derivation:

compliment (a remark (or act) expressing praise and admiration)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Express respect or esteem for

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "compliment" is one way to...):

greet (send greetings to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

 Context examples 

Is not there a something wanted, Miss Price, in our language—a something between compliments and—and love—to suit the sort of friendly acquaintance we have had together?

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

We'll drink the daisies of the field, in compliment to you; and the lilies of the valley that toil not, neither do they spin, in compliment to me—the more shame for me!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

“That is a compliment which gives me no pleasure.”

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

And I am sure, by his manner, it was no compliment.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Fred laughed when I spoke of Jo, and sent his 'respectful compliments to the big hat'.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I did not expect such a compliment.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

I admit that the paper was exuberant in the matter, out of compliment to its own enterprise in sending a correspondent, but the other great dailies were hardly less full in their account.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Mr. Rochester led in Miss Ingram; she was complimenting him on his acting.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

She was persuaded that any tolerably pleasing young woman who had listened and seemed to feel for him would have received the same compliment.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

I was aware of the compliment and pleased, in that no threat had accompanied my instructions.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)