compact
1com·pact
adj \kəm-ˈpakt, käm-ˈ, ˈkäm-ˌ\Definition of COMPACT
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
- The drill has a compact design.
- the apartment's compact floor plan
- The cabin was compact but perfectly adequate.
- He is compact and muscular.
- 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
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
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
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