compound
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1com·pound
verb \käm-ˈpau̇nd, kəm-ˈ, ˈkäm-ˌ\Definition of COMPOUND
transitive verb
1
: to put together (parts) so as to form a whole : combine <compound ingredients>
2
: to form by combining parts <compound a medicine>
3
a : to settle amicably : adjust by agreement b : to agree for a consideration not to prosecute (an offense) <compound a felony>
4
a : to pay (interest) on both the accrued interest and the principal b : to add to : augment <we compounded our error in later policy — Robert Lekachman>
intransitive verb
1
: to become joined in a compound
2
: to come to terms of agreement
— com·pound·able \-ˈpau̇n-də-bəl, -ˌpau̇n-\ adjective
— com·pound·er noun
See Examples of COMPOUND
- The interest is compounded at regular intervals.
- <we compounded our error by waiting too long to call for help>
Origin of COMPOUND
Middle English compounen, from Anglo-French *cumpundre, from Latin componere, from com- + ponere to put — more at position
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to COMPOUND
Rhymes with COMPOUND
abound, aground, around, astound, background, bloodhound, boozehound, brassbound, break ground, campground, chowhound, clothbound, come round, confound, coonhound, deerhound, deskbound, dumbfound, earthbound, eastbound, elkhound, expound, fairground, fogbound, foot-pound, foreground, foxhound, gain ground, go-round, greyhound, half-bound, hardbound, hellhound, hidebound, high ground, homebound, horehound, housebound, icebound, impound, inbound, ironbound, lose ground, newfound, newshound, northbound, outbound, playground, pot-bound, profound, propound, rebound, redound, renowned, resound, rockbound, rock hound, scent hound, sight hound, sleuthhound, smooth hound, snowbound, softbound, southbound, spellbound, staghound, stone-ground, stormbound, strikebound, surround, to ground, top round, unbound, unround, unsound, well-found, westbound, wolfhound, year-round
2com·pound
adjective \ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd, käm-ˈ, kəm-ˈ\Definition of COMPOUND
1
: composed of or resulting from union of separate elements, ingredients, or parts: as a : composed of united similar elements especially of a kind usually independent <a compound plant ovary> b : having the blade divided to the midrib and forming two or more leaflets on a common axis <a compound leaf>
2
: involving or used in a combination
3
a of a word : constituting a compound b of a sentence : having two or more main clauses
Examples of COMPOUND
- “Steamboat” is a compound noun.
- “I told him to leave and he left” is a compound sentence.
Origin of COMPOUND
Middle English compouned, past participle of compounen
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to COMPOUND
- Synonyms
- amalgamated, composite
- Antonyms
- noncompound, simple
3com·pound
noun \ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd\Definition of COMPOUND
1
a : a word consisting of components that are words (as rowboat, high school, devil-may-care) b : a word (as anthropology, kilocycle, builder) consisting of any of various combinations of words, combining forms, or affixes
2
: something formed by a union of elements or parts; especially : a distinct substance formed by chemical union of two or more ingredients in definite proportion by weight
First Known Use of COMPOUND
1530
4com·pound
noun \ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd\Definition of COMPOUND
: a fenced or walled-in area containing a group of buildings and especially residences
Origin of COMPOUND
by folk etymology from Malay kampung group of buildings, village
First Known Use: 1679
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