compound

1 of 4

noun (1)

com·​pound ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd How to pronounce compound (audio)
1
: 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
a new antibiotic compound
2
a
: a word consisting of components that are words (such as rowboat, high school, devil-may-care)
b
: a word (such as anthropology, kilocycle, builder) consisting of any of various combinations of words, combining forms, or affixes

compound

2 of 4

verb

com·​pound käm-ˈpau̇nd How to pronounce compound (audio)
kəm-ˈpau̇nd,
ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd How to pronounce compound (audio)
compounded; compounding; compounds

transitive verb

1
a
: to pay (interest) on both the accrued interest and the principal
b
: to add to : augment
compound an error
… had several other medical complications that compounded his condition.Jeffrey S. Hollis
2
: to form by combining parts
compound a medicine
3
: to put together (parts) so as to form a whole : combine
compound ingredients
… a thick sauce compounded of chilies, garlic, and ginger.Andy Birsh
4
a
: to settle amicably : adjust by agreement
b
: to agree for a consideration not to prosecute (an offense)
compound a felony

intransitive verb

1
: to become joined in a compound
2
: to come to terms of agreement
compounded with the enemy for peace
compoundable
käm-ˈpau̇n-də-bəl How to pronounce compound (audio)
kəm-ˈpau̇n-
ˈkäm-ˌpau̇n-
adjective
compounder noun

compound

3 of 4

adjective

com·​pound ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd How to pronounce compound (audio) käm-ˈpau̇nd How to pronounce compound (audio)
kəm-ˈpau̇nd
1
: composed of or resulting from union of separate elements, ingredients, or parts: such as
a
: having the blade divided to the midrib and forming two or more leaflets on a common axis
a compound leaf
b
: composed of united similar elements especially of a kind usually independent
a compound plant ovary
2
: involving or used in a combination
3
a
of a word : made by combining two or more words : constituting a compound (see compound entry 1 sense 2)
"Steamboat" is a compound noun.
b
of a sentence : having two or more main clauses

compound

4 of 4

noun (2)

com·​pound ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd How to pronounce compound (audio)
: a fenced or walled-in area containing a group of buildings and especially residences
a prison compound
an embassy compound

Examples of compound in a Sentence

Verb The interest is compounded at regular intervals. we compounded our error by waiting too long to call for help Adjective “Steamboat” is a compound noun. “I told him to leave and he left” is a compound sentence.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Catherine’s announcement about her break from royal duties was further compounded by King Charles III’s health issues, including Buckingham Palace’s announcement that he was being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024 Unfortunately, that also means that members focused on actually making law have more reason than ever to say goodbye to Congress — further compounding the problem. Matt Weidinger, National Review, 7 Mar. 2024 That could be compounded by the club's likely absence from next season's competition as well. James Robson, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024 The slow ramp-up has compounded hardships that began for crewmembers during the strikes. Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 The problem is compounded by the fact that investors and businesses have become addicted to near zero or at zero interest rates. Ron Paul, Orange County Register, 5 Mar. 2024 Compounding pharmacists customize medications to fit an individual’s needs, and compounding pharmacies usually make only a couple of doses for a specific patient, which can lower the cost of production, CNN has previously reported. Sabrina Souza, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024 This will compound the danger level, as nighttime twisters are more than twice as likely to be fatal compared to their daytime counterparts. Kathryn Prociv, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2024 Further compounding the silo problem is the practice of treating enterprise datasets as use-case-specific. Manish Sood, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Between 2024 and 2034, our latest Global Fleet and MRO Market Forecast expects the number of commercial aircraft worldwide to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.5%, reaching more than 36,400 aircraft by the start of 2034. Oliver Wyman, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 The government’s decision this month to roll back subsidies cut deep in a country where some 90 percent of people live in poverty, according to United Nations estimates, amid a compound confluence of crises: violence, hyperinflation, Western sanctions, weak institutions and rampant extortion. Sarah Dadouch, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2023 By comparison, the compound annual growth rate of the S&P 500 stock index is 10.5% over the past three years. Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2024 The firm’s growth projections indicate that total APAC video industry revenues will expand at a compound average growth rate of 2.6% between 2023-28 to reach $165 billion by 2028. Patrick Frater, Variety, 3 Jan. 2024 Additionally, China is the world's largest EV market with a compound annual growth rate of 5% over the last decade. Jacob Wolinsky, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023 Hydrogen occurs naturally in compound form with other elements in liquids, gases or solids. Kate Gibson, CBS News, 18 Oct. 2023 Coca-Cola has since appreciated by close to 600%, or a compound annual rate of return of some 25%, but Berkshire has taken not a penny in profits and has sold not a single share. Matt Schifrin, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 This will have a compound annual growth rate of 73.3% over the 2023-2027 forecast period, according to IDC. Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2023
Noun
The survey also revealed that teen use of delta-8 was more common in states where the psychoactive compound was not regulated. Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Other donations went to two schools — one walled off inside a SpaceX compound and another built next to a housing compound for employees. Allison Morrow, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024 Incidents at the compound have at times been the spark for broader conflicts. Raja Abdulrahim, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2024 On one peak Friday, the compound hosted more than 300,000 worshipers. Sufian Taha, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 Prosecutors described the rural property as a compound that was heavily fortified, purpose-built, and militarized. USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024 They’re lured to compounds in countries including Cambodia and Myanmar with offers of high-paying jobs, then trapped, forced to scam, and sometimes beaten and tortured. Zeke Faux, Fortune, 29 Feb. 2024 The United Nations has estimated more than 200,000 people are being held in scam compounds. Zeke Faux, Fortune, 29 Feb. 2024 Retinoids, a group of chemical compounds derived from vitamin A, commonly cause issues for tweens and young teens who don’t need them, dermatologists said. Katie Mogg, NBC News, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'compound.' 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

Middle English compounen, from Anglo-French *cumpundre, from Latin componere, from com- + ponere to put — more at position

Adjective and Noun (1)

Middle English compouned, past participle of compounen — see compound entry 2

Noun (2)

by folk etymology from Malay kampung group of buildings, village

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1679, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near compound

Cite this Entry

“Compound.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compound. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

compound

1 of 4 verb
com·​pound käm-ˈpau̇nd How to pronounce compound (audio)
kəm-;
ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd
1
: to put together or be joined to form a whole : combine
2
: to form by combining parts
compound a medicine
3
: to settle or adjust by agreement
compound a debt
4
a
: to pay in the form of compound interest
interest compounded quarterly
b
: to add to
compounded our errors
compoundable adjective
compounder noun

compound

2 of 4 adjective
com·​pound ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd How to pronounce compound (audio)
käm-ˈpau̇nd,
kəm-
1
: made of or by the union of separate elements or parts
a compound substance
2
: made up of two or more parts that are alike and form a common whole
a raspberry is a compound fruit
3
a
: being a word that is a compound
the compound noun "steamboat"
b
: consisting of two or more main clauses
"I told him to leave and he left" is a compound sentence

compound

3 of 4 noun
com·​pound ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd How to pronounce compound (audio)
1
: a word consisting of parts that are words
"rowboat," "high school," and "light-year" are compounds
2
: something formed by a union of elements or parts
especially : a distinct substance formed by the union of two or more chemical elements in definite proportion by weight

compound

4 of 4 noun
com·​pound ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd How to pronounce compound (audio)
: an enclosed area containing a group of buildings
Etymology

Verb

Middle English compounen "combine, compound," from early French compondre (same meaning), from Latin componere "compound, combine," from com- "with, together" and ponere "to place, put" — related to position

Noun

from a word in Malay, the language of the people of the Malay Peninsula, kampung "enclosure around a building"; both spelling and pronunciation influenced by the more familiar English word compound

Medical Definition

compound

1 of 3 transitive verb
: to form by combining parts
compound a medicine

compound

2 of 3 adjective
: composed of or resulting from union of separate elements, ingredients, or parts
a compound substance
compound glands

compound

3 of 3 noun
com·​pound ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd How to pronounce compound (audio)
: something formed by a union of elements or parts
specifically : a distinct substance formed by chemical union of two or more ingredients in definite proportion by weight

Legal Definition

compound

transitive verb
com·​pound kəm-ˈpau̇nd How to pronounce compound (audio)
1
: to agree for a consideration not to prosecute (an offense)

Note: Compounding a felony is a common-law crime.

2
: to pay (interest) on both the accrued interest and the principal

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