Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - compliment

(complimented) 1. A compliment is a polite remark that you say to someone to show that you like their appearance, appreciate their qualities, or approve of what they have done. You can do no harm by paying a woman compliments... ‘Well done, Cassandra,’ Crook said. She blushed, but accepted the compliment with good grace. N-COUNT 2. If you compliment someone, you pay them a compliment. They complimented me on the way I looked each time they saw me... VERB: V n on n 3. You can refer to your compliments when you want to express thanks, good wishes, or respect to someone in a formal way. My compliments to the chef... N-PLURAL: usu poss N, oft N to n c darkgreen]politeness 4. If you say that someone returns the compliment, you mean that they do the same thing to someone else as that person has done to them. The actors have entertained us so splendidly during this weekend, I think it’s time we returned the compliment. PHRASE: V inflects 5. If you say that you are giving someone something with your compliments, you are saying in a polite and fairly formal way that you are giving it to them, especially as a gift or a favour. Please give this to your boss with my compliments... PHRASE: PHR after v c darkgreen]politeness