compound

1 of 4

noun (1)

com·​pound ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd 

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 

kəm-ˈpau̇nd,

ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd 

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 

kəm-ˈpau̇n-

ˈkäm-ˌpau̇n-

adjective

compounder noun

compound

3 of 4

adjective

com·​pound ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd  käm-ˈpau̇nd 

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 

: a fenced or walled-in area containing a group of buildings and especially residences

a prison compound

an embassy compound

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• admixture
• alloy
• amalgam
• amalgamation
• blend
• cocktail
• combination
• composite
• conflation
• emulsion
• fusion
• intermixture
• meld
• mix
• mixture
• synthesis

Verb

• accelerate
• add (to)
• aggrandize
• amplify
• augment
• boost
• build up
• enlarge
• escalate
• expand
• extend
• hype
• increase
• multiply
• pump up
• raise
• stoke
• supersize
• swell
• up

Adjective

• amalgamated
• composite

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

For instance, the public debt challenge in the eurozone is compounded by having a single currency and 20 treasuries. —Iese Business School, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023

All the hardships that a winter storm typically delivers were compounded and complicated by the exigencies of war. —Marc Santora, New York Times, 27 Nov. 2023

For the county, the challenge of obtaining permanent housing is compounded by the need to apportion its efforts over more than 80 cities and a tangle of unincorporated areas between them. —Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2023

Still, scientists don’t have a clear reason why these younger birds would leave more up to the wind, or how small errors could compound and lead to a vagrant bird. —Maddie Bender, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Nov. 2023

Analysts have said that the largest luxury company’s results confirm a normalization in the sector, compounded by economic weakness like high inflation and interest rates. —Byprarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 10 Nov. 2023

Experts say the situation has been compounded for a number of reasons, including insurers arguing that the risk of doing business there is just too high due to the elevated risk of wildfires and California laws that restrict how the insurance companies can price out their policies. —Lindsey Griswold, ABC News, 16 Nov. 2023

That problem was compounded by an influx of kids entering the foster care system. —Paige Pfleger, ProPublica, 16 Nov. 2023

For clients with longer time horizons, a more aggressive investment approach might be suitable, as this would allow for potential growth and compounding over time. —Mike Vietri, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023

Adjective

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

It’s now projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 15.2 percent from 2022 to 2030, with the hard adventure segment representing a significant revenue share of more than 20 percent. —Sharael Kolberg, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2023

In an investor slide deck accompanying the filing, Disney said revenue in the Parks, Experiences and Products business hit $32.3 billion for the 12 months ended July 1, 2023, representing a compound annual growth rate of 6% since fiscal year 2017. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 19 Sep. 2023

Valued at nearly $2.3 billion in 2020, experts project the compound annual growth rate of mushrooms to be 9.3% from now until 2030. —Robert Johnson, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2023

Spending in the global AI infrastructure market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 44% over the next six years, according to Data Bridge Market Research. —Angus Loten, WSJ, 3 Aug. 2023

Fine wine has had a compound annual growth rate of 10% over the last 30 years, according to the Liv-Ex investables index, which tracks the going rates for fine wines. —Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 12 July 2023

PwC forecasts a compound annual growth rate in global music, radio and podcasting for 2022-2027 of 2.7 percent, with revenue rising from $104.4 billion in 2022 and $110.9 billion in 2023 to $120.6 billion in 2027. —Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 June 2023

Noun

The vehicle also rides on a set of model-specific Bridgestone tires made from a special compound meant to better withstand the most punishing of track days. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 21 Nov. 2023

The hospital, which was financed by the Indonesian government and operated by the Gaza Health Ministry, was hit around 2:30 a.m. after Israeli tanks drew closer to the compound amid constant shelling and gunfire, according to a nurse and a hospital administrator. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 21 Nov. 2023

But the pathway is getting another look as companies search for compounds that might spare muscle tissue from the effects of powerful weight-loss treatment. —Damian Garde, STAT, 17 Nov. 2023

These compounds may also reduce the aggregation of tau protein. —Lauren Manaker Ms, Rdn, Ld, Clec, Verywell Health, 17 Nov. 2023

Wealthy friends were behind the purchase of the home Mr. Kennedy used on the family compound on Cape Cod, records show. —Susanne Craig, New York Times, 16 Nov. 2023

Mayan Architectural Techniques By burning the limestone to temperatures of over 1650 degrees Fahrenheit, Maya builders created quicklime — a sturdy compound that hardens when exposed to CO2. —Tim Brinkhof, Discover Magazine, 15 Nov. 2023

The compound, known as a catalyst, is made entirely from elements found in Martian meteorites—which means, if such a system could work reliably, space travelers would not need to bring oxygen or even the catalyst needed to produce it. —Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Nov. 2023

Now, in research published in Nature Astronomy, the Juno team revealed new photos of Jupiter’s largest moon, Ganymede, which show evidence of salts and organic compounds. —Popular Science, 8 Nov. 2023

See More

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

Phrases Containing compound

• compound-complex
• compound number
• compound eye
• compound microscope
• compound interest
• quaternary ammonium compound
• joint compound
• compound fracture

• compound-complex
• compound number
• compound eye
• compound microscope
• compound interest
• quaternary ammonium compound
• joint compound
• compound fracture

See More

Kids Definition

compound

1 of 4 verb

com·​pound käm-ˈpau̇nd 

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

-ˈpau̇n-də-bəl 

-ˌpau̇n-

adjective

compounder noun

compound

2 of 4 adjective

com·​pound ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd 

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 

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 

: 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

com·​pound käm-ˈpau̇nd, kəm-ˈ, ˈkäm-ˌ 

: to form by combining parts

compound a medicine

compound

2 of 3 adjective

com·​pound ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd, käm-ˈ, kəm-ˈ 

: 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 

: 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 

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