1com·pli·ment 
/ˈkɑ:mpləmənt/ noun
plural com·pli·ments /ˈkɑ:mpləmənt/ noun 1 [count] : a remark that says something good about someone or something
▪ She gave/paid me a compliment. [=she said something nice about me] ▪ He told her he admired her paintings and she returned/repaid the compliment by saying that she was a fan of his sculptures. ▪ I received a nice compliment yesterday. [=someone said something nice about me yesterday] ▪ I'll take that as a compliment. [=I'll regard what was said as praise, whether or not the speaker meant it as praise] ▪ When I called you a perfectionist, I meant it as a compliment. [=I wanted what I said to be understood as praise] ▪ She is always fishing for compliments. [=she is always trying to get people to say nice things about her] 2 [count] : an action that expresses admiration or approval
▪ When customers recommend our company to friends and family members, we consider that to be the highest/best compliment we can get. 3 compliments [plural] — used politely to express praise, welcome, or good wishes to someone ▪ Our compliments to the chef! [=we praise the chef for preparing a fine meal] ▪ Please accept this gift with our compliments. ▪ A free sample is enclosed with the compliments of the manufacturer. ◊The phrase compliments of is often used to identify the giver of something that has been provided for free.
▪ We were served free drinks, compliments of [=provided without charge by] the casino. Compliments of is also used in a joking way to refer to the source of something that is not wanted. ▪ I woke up with a stiff neck, compliments of that uncomfortable mattress in their guest room. [=sleeping on the uncomfortable mattress gave me a stiff neck] ▪ He received an audit, compliments of the IRS.
▪ She gave/paid me a compliment. [=she said something nice about me] ▪ He told her he admired her paintings and she returned/repaid the compliment by saying that she was a fan of his sculptures. ▪ I received a nice compliment yesterday. [=someone said something nice about me yesterday] ▪ I'll take that as a compliment. [=I'll regard what was said as praise, whether or not the speaker meant it as praise] ▪ When I called you a perfectionist, I meant it as a compliment. [=I wanted what I said to be understood as praise] ▪ She is always fishing for compliments. [=she is always trying to get people to say nice things about her]
▪ When customers recommend our company to friends and family members, we consider that to be the highest/best compliment we can get.
▪ We were served free drinks, compliments of [=provided without charge by] the casino. Compliments of is also used in a joking way to refer to the source of something that is not wanted. ▪ I woke up with a stiff neck, compliments of that uncomfortable mattress in their guest room. [=sleeping on the uncomfortable mattress gave me a stiff neck] ▪ He received an audit, compliments of the IRS.
Do not confuse compliment with complement.
