compass

verb com·pass \ ˈkəm-pəs also ˈkäm- \

Updated on: 15 May 2018

Definition of compass

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

play \ˈkəm-pə-sə-bəl also ˈkäm-\ adjective

See compass defined for kids

Examples of compass in a Sentence

attempting more than his modest abilities could compass
the great age of exploration, when ships of sail compassed the earth

Recent Examples of compass from the Web

True to their name, though, sun compasses only work in the sun.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Vikings Could Have Used Crystals For Navigation," 4 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'compass.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of compass

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

compass Synonyms

Phrases

pick up on;

compass

noun

Definition of compass

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 6c

his moral compass

See compass defined for English-language learners

Examples of compass in a Sentence

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 of compass from the Web

The nine thousand dollars in gold stashed on board to pay for the slaves played havoc with the ship’s compass, taking it off course; after that, a hurricane caught it just north of Bermuda.

— casey n. cep, The New Yorker, "Zora Neale Hurston’s Story of a Former Slave Finally Comes to Print," 7 May 2018
Using a compass was a new experience for Janine and the other girls.

— dennis hohenberger, Courant Community, "Suffield Girl Scouts Celebrate Earth Day At Hilltop Farm," 2 May 2018
And while sales are one way to gauge the will of the people, the marketplace is fickle. Americans ought to be cautious before making corporations their moral compass or primary vehicle for reform.

— adam winkler, The New Republic, "Why big business is suddenly into liberal politics," 30 Apr. 2018
The top-tier Limited and Touring gas Avalon and the Limited hybrid go even further with 10-inch color head-up displays (HUD) that let drivers monitor speedometer, navigation prompts, compass, phone, audio and safety system status.

— jeff yip, Houston Chronicle, "Toyota’s all-new 2019 Avalon hits dealerships in May," 28 Apr. 2018
Apple’s direct link to customers has likely given the company a far stronger internal compass to design products with its users’ best interests in mind.

— alex salkever, Fortune, "Commentary: Apple Actually Cares About Users’ Data. Facebook Could Learn a Lesson.," 27 Mar. 2018
Instead of reacting to the weather, prepare for it with this waterproof watch that features a storm alarm, weather-predicting barometer, thermometer, altimeter, and compass.

— janna irons, Outside Online, "Essential Gear for Road-Trip Season," 23 Apr. 2018
The leg that’s touching the ground is fairly rigid and straight, and the push has provided enough forward speed for your hips to be carried over the top of the leg, following a circular path just like the pencil on a compass.

— helen czerski, WSJ, "Pendulums and Pacing: the Fine Art of Walking," 19 Apr. 2018
The latest models include GPS and mapping, in addition to an altimeter, barometer, and compass.

— jacob kastrenakes, The Verge, "Casio announces a cheaper version of its Wear OS watch for hikers," 17 Apr. 2018

Illustration of compass

Origin and Etymology of compass

see ¹compass

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

compass Synonyms

Synonyms

border, borderline, bound, boundary, brim, circumference, confines, edge, edging, end, frame, fringe, hem, margin, perimeter, periphery, rim, skirt, skirting, verge;

Near Antonyms

center, core, heart;

inner, inside, interior, middle, within;

Related Words

ambit;

brink, crest, curb, cusp, lip;

ceiling, maximum;

demarcation, extent, limitation, measure, mere, restriction, termination;

borderland, frontier, march, outskirts, pale, selvage;

lap;

shore;

Synonym Discussion of 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

compass

adjective

Definition of compass

: forming a curve : curved

a compass timber

First Known Use of compass

1523

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

COMPASS Defined for English Language Learners

compass

noun

Definition of compass for English Language Learners

: a device that is used to find direction by means of a needle that always points north
: something that helps a person make choices about what is right, effective, etc.
: a tool that consists of two pointed sticks joined at the top and that is used for measuring distances