compound — English Dictionary

Noun

1. An enclosure within which workers, prisoners, or soldiers are confined.

   Synonyms

   gaoljailpenpoundprison

2. An enclosure for secure storage.

   Examples

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   A separate building on the west side will house a standby powerhouse and a workshop, and there will be an unroofed compound for compressed air cylinders and water tanks.

   A total of 75 cycle spaces are being installed at three Greater Anglia stations - [...]. And a secure compound for bicycles is being built at Cambridge North.

3. A group of buildings situated close together, e.g. for a school or block of offices.

   Examples

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   Shepard: What kind of proof do you have that the major is dangerous? Transmission: Three days ago, we sent two Alliance representatives to meet with him at his compound. They have disappeared. We believe Kyle and his followers killed them. Transmission: That compound is a cult, Shepard. They call him 'Father Kyle' now. He's set himself up as some kind of religious leader.

   Some 20 supporters managed to get inside the court compounds. About half an hour after the verdict was delivered, they gathered near the Constitutional Court entrance and shouted: "On March 24, use your pen to oust the dictator."

4. A group of buildings where members of the same extended family live together.

   Usage

   • Philippines
   • broadly

Adjective

1. Composed of elements; not simple.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Synonyms

   composite

   Antonyms

   simple

   Examples

   a compound word

   Compound substances are made up of two or more simple substances.

2. Dealing with numbers of various denominations of quantity, or with processes more complex than the simple process.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   compound addition

   compound proportion

3. An octave higher than originally (i.e. a compound major second is equivalent to a major ninth).

   Usage

   • not-comparable

Noun

1. Anything made by combining several things.

   Synonyms

   amalgamblendcombinationcompositemixmixture

2. A substance formed by chemical bonding of two or more elements in definite proportions by weight.

3. A substance made from any combination of ingredients.

   Usage

   • Dated

   Examples

   A compound of spurge, cardamom, cinnamon of Mecca, pellitory, ginger, nettle seed is an Arab specific for sexual weakness.

4. A legal procedure whereby a criminal or delinquent avoids prosecution in a court in exchange for his payment to the authorities of a financial penalty or fine.

5. A lexeme that consists of more than one stem.

   Synonyms

   compound word

   Examples

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   Compositionally there is no great distinction between cell wall and cell surface, both are relatively transparent compounds, but both parts of the cell are of high significance in Biology due to their central role in cell functioning.

6. A lexeme that consists of more than one stem or affix, e.g. "bookshop", "high school" or "non-standard".

   Examples

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   In the majority of the compounds of non- the hyphen is usually retained; but it is commonly omitted in the case of a few, such as nonconformist, nonentity, nonsense, in which the etymology has been to some extent lost sight of.

7. A compound locomotive, a steam locomotive with both high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders.

   Examples

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   From a dead stand, with regulator full open and the lever at about 50 per cent we got up to about 60 m.p.h. by the top of the bank. The big compound was making plenty of noise - but what musical and wonderful noise!

Verb

1. To form (a resulting mixture) by combining different elements, ingredients, or parts; to mingle with something else.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   to compound a medicine

   Only compound me with forgotten dust.

   More examples (3)

   We have the power of altering[…] and compounding those images[…] into all the varieties of picture.

   incapacitating him from successfully compounding a tale of this sort

   In eighteenth century France, many aphrodisiac dishes and pastries were compounded with chocolate.

2. To settle by agreeing on less than the claim, or on different terms than those stipulated.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Synonyms

   settle

   Examples

   to compound a debt

3. To settle amicably; to adjust by agreement.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Synonyms

   compromise

   Examples

   I pray, my lords, let me compound this strife.

   No! no—if Charles has done nothing false or mean, I shall compound for his extravagance

4. To come to terms of agreement; to settle by a compromise.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Synonyms

   agree

   Examples

   to compound with someone / for something

   Here's a fellow will help you to-morrow; […] compound with him by the year.

   More examples (3)

   They were at last glad to compound for his bare commitment to the Tower.

   [Cornwall] compounded to furnish ten oxen after Michaelmas for thirty pounds.

   Compound for sins they are inclined to / By damning those they have no mind to.

5. To compose; to constitute.

   Usage

   • Obsolete
   • Transitive

   Examples

   his pomp and all what state compounds

6. To increase in value with interest, where the interest is earned on both the principal sum and prior earned interest.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

7. To worsen a situation.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

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   […] This latest example of nationalistic self-interest compounded anger across the EU over Trump’s travel ban, imposed last month without consultation or scientific justification.

8. Of a horse: to fail to maintain speed.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

   At the hill, the Warrior must have been at least ten lengths in front of Wild Dayrell; but he compounded about 200 yards on the T. Y. C. side of the Red House.

Adjective

1. composed of more than one part

   Antonyms

   simple

   Examples

   compound leaves are composed of several lobes

   compound flower heads

2. consisting of two or more substances or ingredients or elements or parts

   Examples

   soap is a compound substance

   housetop is a compound word

   More examples (1)

   a blackberry is a compound fruit

3. composed of many distinct individuals united to form a whole or colony

   Synonyms

   colonial

   Examples

   coral is a colonial organism

Noun

1. a whole formed by a union of two or more elements or parts

   Broader terms

   whole

2. (chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight

   Synonyms

   chemical compound

   Broader terms

   chemicalchemical substance

3. an enclosure of residences and other building (especially in the Orient)

   Broader terms

   enclosure

4. a word (as anthropology, kilocycle, builder) consisting of any of various combinations of words, combining forms, or affixes.

   Synonyms

   compound word

   Broader terms

   derivative

   Examples

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   Also common in English is another type of verb-noun (or noun-verb) compound, in which an argument of the verb is incorporated into the verb, which is then usually turned into a gerund, such as breastfeeding, finger-pointing, etc.

Verb

1. make more intense, stronger, or more marked

   Synonyms

   intensifyheightendeepen

   Broader terms

   increase

   Examples

   The efforts were intensified

   Her rudeness intensified his dislike for her

   More examples (2)

   Pot smokers claim it heightens their awareness

   This event only deepened my convictions

2. put or add together

   Synonyms

   combine

   Broader terms

   add

   Examples

   combine resources

3. calculate principal and interest

   Broader terms

   accountcalculate

4. create by mixing or combining

   Broader terms

   assemblepieceput togetherset uptacktack together

5. combine so as to form a whole; mix

   Synonyms

   combine

   Broader terms

   mixminglecommixunifyamalgamate

   Examples

   compound the ingredients