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
This compounds its popular image as being little more than a wheel in Israel’s occupation system. Raja Khalidi, Foreign Affairs, 19 Mar. 2024 Global tensions with Russia have been further compounded by the recent death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny at the age of 47 in February. Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 17 Mar. 2024 The end to his flawless run was compounded when Hadwin’s 14-foot putt agonizingly trickled an inch wide of the cup, leaving the exasperated world No. 46 to tap in for a double-bogey. Jack Bantock, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024 Over the course of a career, the gaps compound into more than $1 million less for women of color, compared with what a White man would earn. Erin Cox, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 The elimination of the community centers compounds their challenges. Michael C. Bender, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 This compounds the problems for EV adoption in Africa, experts say, because the used vehicles crowd nearly all electric cars out of the market. Lenny Rashid Ruvaga, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar. 2024 With climate change compounding the strains on the Colorado River, seven Western states are starting to consider long-term plans for reducing water use to prevent the river’s reservoirs from reaching critically low levels in the years to come. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 For Jacque, who is Latina, and for other Black and brown girls, the challenges of early puberty are compounded by racial stereotypes from both peers and their own doctors. Alexa Lee, STAT, 7 Mar. 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
From our veranda, there was a clear view of the entire compound. Mohammed Naseehu Ali, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024 The Israeli military was targeting Al-Amal with smoke bombs, and military vehicles were barricading the entrances of the compound, the Red Crescent said. Ameera Harouda, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024 On a visit to the compound Tuesday, Waqf security staff politely asked worshippers to check their bags, muttering into walkie-talkies as groups filed past. Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Mar. 2024 Staying at the latter, the biggest plantation on the island, sensitively restored six years ago, is to get under the skin of life here, sharing the rambling, faded grandeur of the compound with a resident community. Catherine Fairweather, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Mar. 2024 New nonprofit to utilize AI to alleviate the global water crisis The top chemicals that were discharged into waterways were found to be nitrate compounds, manganese compounds and ammonia, the data shows. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 16 Mar. 2024 Choline can be listed as a compound amount or the actual amount of choline. Casey Seiden, Parents, 15 Mar. 2024 The Corolla braked and turned, headlights sweeping across prairie grass, and entered the driveway of a 10-acre compound filled with circular huts and row after row of greenhouses. Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, 14 Mar. 2024 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

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 28 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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