Meaning & use
temple complex
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Meaning
nouncountable
A group of buildings used for worship, often including a main temple and smaller shrines, halls, or courtyards.
Grammar: Countable: a temple complex, two temple complexes. Often used with the name of a place, e.g. 'the Angkor temple complex'.
Patterns
- a temple complex
- the temple complex at
- an ancient temple complex
The temple complex covers more than a square mile and includes several shrines.
Tourists come to see the ancient temple complex at sunrise.
Archaeologists have been excavating the temple complex for over a decade.
Word forms
| plural | temple complexes |
|---|
Common combinations
- ancient temple complex
- The ancient temple complex attracts thousands of visitors each year.
- Buddhist temple complex
- The Buddhist temple complex includes a meditation hall and a library.
- Hindu temple complex
- The Hindu temple complex is known for its tall carved towers.
- visit a temple complex
- We visited a temple complex in the mountains.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- temple noun
- A building used for worship, especially in religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism.
Commonly confused: temple complex or temple?
temple complex vs temple
A temple is one building; a temple complex is a group of buildings. Don't use 'temple complex' for a single small temple.
Practice
The ___ at Angkor Wat includes many buildings and courtyards.
Choose one answer.
The subject is singular ('includes'), so the singular form 'temple complex' is correct. 'Temple complexes' is plural and would need 'include'; 'temple's complex' means a complex belonging to a temple; 'temple complexity' is not a standard phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “temple complex”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.