compact

¹com·pact

adj \kəm-ˈpakt, käm-ˈ, ˈkäm-ˌ\

Definition of COMPACT

1

: predominantly formed or filled : composed, made

2

a : having a dense structure or parts or units closely packed or joined <a compact woolen> <compact bone> b : not diffuse or verbose <a compact statement> c : occupying a small volume by reason of efficient use of space <a compact camera> <a compact formation of troops> d : short-bodied, solid, and without excess flesh

3

: being a topological space and especially a metric space with the property that for any collection of open sets which contains it there is a subset of the collection with a finite number of elements which also contains it

— com·pact·ly \-ˈpak(t)-lē, -ˌpak(t)-\ adverb

— com·pact·ness \-ˈpak(t)-nəs, -ˌpak(t)-\ noun

Examples of COMPACT

1. The drill has a compact design.
2. the apartment's compact floor plan
3. The cabin was compact but perfectly adequate.
4. He is compact and muscular.
5. He has a compact body.

Origin of COMPACT

Middle English, firmly put together, from Latin compactus, from past participle of compingere to put together, from com- + pangere to fasten — more at pact

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to COMPACT

Synonyms: firm, hard, rigid, solid, stiff, unyielding

Antonyms: flabby, soft, spongy, squashy, squishy

Related Words: case-hardened, compacted, compressed, hardened, indurated, stiffened, tempered; close, dense, heavy, thick, thickset; inelastic, inflexible, ramrod, unbending; compressed, condensed; adamantine, rocklike; sturdy, substantial; impenetrable, impermeable, nonporous

Near Antonyms: loose, scattered, thin; bendable, elastic, flexible, malleable, pliable, pliant, supple; droopy, flaccid, floppy, lank, limp, slack; airy, light; permeable, porous; ultrasoft

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Rhymes with COMPACT

abstract, attract, class act, contact, contract, crookbacked, detract, didact, diffract, distract, enact, entr'acte, epact, exact, extract, humpbacked, hunchbacked, impact, infract, intact, mossbacked, playact, protract, react, redact, refract, retract, sex act, subtract, swaybacked, transact, unbacked