compass

1 of 3

verb

com·​pass ˈkəm-pəs How to pronounce compass (audio)
 also  ˈkäm-
compassed; compassing; compasses

transitive verb

1
: to devise or contrive often with craft or skill : plot
" … persons … who have compassed my destruction … "Charles Dickens
2
: encompass
a lake compassed by mountains
3
a
: bring about, achieve
… none can compass more than they intend …Alexander Pope
b
: to get into one's possession or power : obtain
He compassed a vast estate.
4
: comprehend
could not compass the seriousness of the problem
compassable
ˈkəm-pə-sə-bəl How to pronounce compass (audio)
 also  ˈkäm-
adjective

compass

2 of 3

noun

1
a
: boundary, circumference
within the compass of the city walls
b
: a circumscribed space
crammed into a narrow compass
c
: range, scope
the compass of my voice
2
: a curved or roundabout course
… a compass of seven days' journey …2 Kings 3:9 (King James Version)
3
a
: a device for determining directions by means of a magnetic needle or group of needles turning freely on a pivot and pointing to the magnetic north
b
: any of various nonmagnetic devices that indicate direction
c
: an instrument for describing circles or transferring measurements that consists of two pointed branches joined at the top by a pivot
usually used in plural

called also pair of compasses

4
: direction sense 6c
his moral compass

Illustration of compass

Illustration of compass
  • compass 3a

compass

3 of 3

adjective

: forming a curve : curved
a compass timber
Choose the Right Synonym for compass

range, gamut, compass, sweep, scope, orbit mean the extent that lies within the powers of something (as to cover or control).

range is a general term indicating the extent of one's perception or the extent of powers, capacities, or possibilities.

the entire range of human experience

gamut suggests a graduated series running from one possible extreme to another.

a performance that ran the gamut of emotions

compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity.

your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study

sweep suggests extent, often circular or arc-shaped, of motion or activity.

the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity

scope is applicable to an area of activity, predetermined and limited, but somewhat flexible.

as time went on, the scope of the investigation widened

orbit suggests an often circumscribed range of activity or influence within which forces work toward accommodation.

within that restricted orbit they tried to effect social change

Examples of compass in a Sentence

Verb attempting more than his modest abilities could compass the great age of exploration, when ships of sail compassed the earth Noun He always carries a compass when he walks in the woods. His religion is the compass that guides him. Interest rates serve as a compass for determining whether to buy or sell stocks. The character in the movie had no moral compass to tell him that stealing was wrong.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
At its best, McCarthy’s fiction could compass the strange and often violent order of existence. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 13 June 2023 It could be argued that Ingram, not Williamson, is the barometer and compass for how the Pelicans' will navigate the sails of the regular season. Christopher Dodson, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2021 The other delegates ignored him, the Constitution was adopted, and Charles L’Enfant skulked onto the scene with his ruler and compass a few years later. Kevin Mahnken, The New Republic, 25 June 2020 It is based on the knowledge that no spoliator can compass his end without a certain degree of co-operation, willing or compulsory, of the victim. Tridip Suhrud, Time, 25 Sep. 2019 Lutfi began harassing Britney and those around her shortly after the performer checked into an all-compassing wellness treatment facility in April, the singer’s attorney said in the court documents. PEOPLE.com, 13 June 2019 True to their name, though, sun compasses only work in the sun. David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 4 Apr. 2018
Noun
Brit was Blackberry Smoke’s True North, the compass that instituted the ideology that will continue to guide this band. Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Mar. 2024 The hull of the ship features the seams of a basketball and is framed by a compass. Scott Cacciola, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024 Very often, the evaluation of past performance is a misleading compass of future potential. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The Clippers unveil a new logo with compass and ship. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 The upper levels of the development would appear to command dramatic views in all directions of the compass, including toward downtown San Jose, the concepts associated with the project suggest. George Avalos, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024 In the middle, like some scar or deformity, lies a jagged expanse of civilization, garish polychromatic swaths of development blending into one another with only jutting casino high-rises and the slash of Highway 50 serving as compass points. Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2024 Why Prudence Matters The entrepreneurial landscape is unpredictable, and while passion is undeniably the driving force for many entrepreneurs, the compass that guides this fervent energy is prudence. Somdutta Singh, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 For hours, especially between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., everywhere the eye inquired, at all points of the compass, whether high up or close to the horizon, the skies seemed to be distinguished by the absence of clouds. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'compass.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French cumpasser to measure, from Vulgar Latin *compassare to pace off, from Latin com- + passus pace

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1523, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of compass was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near compass

Cite this Entry

“Compass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compass. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

compass

1 of 2 verb
com·​pass ˈkəm-pəs How to pronounce compass (audio)
 also  ˈkäm-
1
: to travel entirely around
compass the earth
2

compass

2 of 2 noun
1
b
: an enclosed space
c
: range entry 1 sense 6, scope
within the compass of my voice
2
a
: a device for determining directions by means of a magnetic needle pointing to the magnetic north
b
: any of various other devices that indicate direction
3
: an instrument for drawing circles or transferring measurements that consists of two pointed branches joined at the top
usually used in plural

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