compact

¹com·pact

adjective \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

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

²compact

verb

Definition of COMPACT

transitive verb

1

: to make up by connecting or combining : compose

2

a : to knit or draw together : combine

b : to press together : compress

intransitive verb

: to become compacted

— com·pact·ible \-ˈpak-tə-bəl, -ˌpak-\ adjective

— com·pac·tor also com·pact·er \-ˈpak-tər, -ˌpak-\ noun

Examples of COMPACT

1. The snow had compacted into a hard icy layer.
2. <the media giant decided to compact all of its far-flung operations onto a single site>

First Known Use of COMPACT

15th century

Related to COMPACT

Synonyms

center, centralize, concenter, concentrate, consolidate, polarize, unify, unite

Antonyms

decentralize, deconcentrate, spread (out)

Related Words

coordinate, harmonize, integrate, orchestrate; blend, coalesce, combine, fuse, incorporate, merge, reduce; conjoin, join, link; assemble, collect, colligate, gather; reunify, reunite

Near Antonyms

segregate, separate

³com·pact

noun \ˈkäm-ˌpakt\

Definition of COMPACT

: something that is compact or compacted:

a : a small cosmetic case (as for compressed powder)

b : an automobile smaller than an intermediate but larger than a subcompact

First Known Use of COMPACT

1601

⁴com·pact

noun \ˈkäm-ˌpakt\

Definition of COMPACT

: an agreement or covenant between two or more parties

Origin of COMPACT

Latin compactum, from neuter of compactus, past participle of compacisci to make an agreement, from com- + pacisci to contract — more at pact

First Known Use: 1591

com·pact

adjective \kəm-ˈpakt, käm-ˈ, ˈkäm-ˌ\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of COMPACT

: having a dense structure without small cavities or cells <compact bone>—compare cancellous

Illustration of COMPACT