Yahoo Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   Com·pound

   noun

   • 1. a thing that is composed of two or more separate elements; a mixture: "the air smelled like a compound of diesel and gasoline fumes"
   • ▪ a substance formed from two or more elements chemically united in fixed proportions: "a compound of hydrogen and oxygen"
   • ▪ a word made up of two or more existing words, such as steamship.

   adjective

   • 1. made up or consisting of two or more existing parts or elements: "a compound noun"
   • ▪ (of interest) payable on both capital and the accumulated interest: "compound interest"
   • ▪ (especially of a leaf, flower, or eye) consisting of two or more simple parts or individuals in combination.

   verb

   • 1. make up (a composite whole); constitute: "a dialect compounded of Spanish and Dutch" Similar be composed ofbe made up ofbe constituted ofbe formed from
   • ▪ mix or combine (ingredients or constituents): "yellow pastas compounded with lemon zest or saffron" Similar mixcombineblendput togetheramalgamatealloyfusesynthesizecoalesceminglemeldinterminglerare:admixcommixcommingle
   • ▪ calculate (interest) on previously accumulated interest: "the yield at which the interest is compounded"
   • 2. make (something bad) worse; intensify the negative aspects of: "I compounded the problem by trying to make wrong things right" Similar aggravateworsenmake worseadd toaugmentexacerbateintensifyheightenincreasemagnifyadd insult to injuryrub salt in the woundadd fuel to the fire/flamescomplicateOpposite alleviateimprove
   • 3. forbear from prosecuting (a felony) in exchange for money or other consideration.
   • ▪ settle (a debt or other matter) in exchange for money or other consideration: "he compounded the case with the defendant for a cash payment"

   Word Origin late Middle Englishcompoune (verb), from Old French compoun-, present tense stem of compondre, from Latin componere ‘put together’. The final -d was added in the 16th century on the pattern of expound and propound. compound1 (sense 2 of the verb) arose through a misinterpretation of the legal phrase compound a felony, which means ‘refrain from prosecuting a felony in exchange for money or other consideration’. This led to the use of compound in legal contexts to mean ‘make something bad worse’, which then became accepted in general usage.

   Derivatives

   • 1. compoundable adjective

   Scrabble Points: 15

   • C

     3

   • O

     1

   • M

     3

   • P

     3

   • O

     1

   • U

     1

   • N

     1

   • D

     2

   Powered by Oxford Languages

   More Definitions, Word Origin & ScrabbleShow less

2. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryCOMPOUND | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   a word that combines two or more different words. Often, the meaning of the compound cannot be discovered by knowing the meaning of the different words that form it. Compounds may be written either as one word or as separate words: 'Bodyguard' and ' floppy disk ' are two examples of compounds.

3. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishCOMPOUND definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   3 days ago · In grammar, a compound noun, adjective, or verb is one that is made up of two or more words, for example 'fire engine', 'bottle-green', and 'force-feed'.

4. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › compoundCompound - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › compound

   A compound is either a mixture or two or more things, or a heavily guarded residence. In botany, a compound leaf consists of more than one part. In linguistics, a compound is a word that consists of two or more independent words.

5. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definitioncompound noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definition

   • Cached

   (grammar) a noun, an adjective or a verb made of two or more words or parts of words, written as one or more words, or joined by a hyphen. Travel agent, dark-haired and bathroom are all compounds. Most compound nouns form their plurals in the usual way. Topics Language b2.

6. dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › compoundCOMPOUND | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › compound

   • Cached

   a noun, verb, or adjective that is made by two or more words used together. For example, ' golf club ' is a compound. compound. verb [ T ] uk / kəmˈpaʊnd / us. to make a problem or difficult situation worse: Severe drought has compounded food shortages in the region.

7. www.dictionary.com › browse › %C2%A0compoundCOMPOUND Definition & Usage Examples | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › %C2%A0compound

   • Cached

   Compound definition: composed of two or more parts, elements, or ingredients. See examples of COMPOUND used in a sentence.

8. www.thefreedictionary.com › compoundCompound - definition of compound by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › compound

   • Cached

   1. A combination of two or more elements or parts. 2. Linguistics A word that consists either of two or more elements that are independent words, such as loudspeaker, self-portrait, or high school, or of specially modified combining forms of words, such as Greek philosophia, from philo-, "loving," and sophia, "wisdom." 3.