compass

verb com·pass \ ˈkəm-pəs also ˈkäm- \

Updated on: 18 Apr 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

Back then, Christianity was our nation's strength and compass.

— Lake County News-Sun, "Letters to the Editor: Leave the forest preserves alone," 12 Apr. 2018
For centuries, Viking seafarers ruled the North Atlantic, braving open seas peppered with icebergs to travel thousands of kilometers to their colonies in Iceland and Greenland—all without compasses.

— katie langin, Science | AAAS, "Top stories: black hole swarms, scientific misconduct, and recognizing mutt breeds," 6 Apr. 2018
Stories are told throughout the play of women who are abused and ridiculed and others who defy the social moral compass.

— milwaukee, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Thought-provoking play by West Allis Village Playhouse opens April 6," 2 Apr. 2018
After promoting its national team as the moral compass of the rules for so long, Australian officials had little choice.

— Washington Post, "Cricket council reviews code after “worst” behavior in years," 29 Mar. 2018
There’s one more thing that the Left, the Right, and every spoke on the broken compass of directionless human politics has in common.

— laurie penny, Longreads, "Who Does She Think She Is?," 29 Mar. 2018
These four characters form the compass points for a drama of becoming, although Greer matters most, the other three serving, often unwillingly, as catalysts for her moral development.

— amy gentry, chicagotribune.com, "Review: 'The Female Persuasion' by Meg Wolitzer," 26 Mar. 2018
My friend showed me how to steer by the compass and pick out visual landmarks.

— jeff wise, Popular Mechanics, "Death and Daring at 1,500 Feet," 7 Mar. 2018
My eyeballs were compasses swinging wildly in search of a way.

— elizabeth wurtzel, Time, "Elizabeth Wurtzel: Giving Up Drugs Was the Hardest Thing Ever. And I Have Cancer," 22 Feb. 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

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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