compound

1 of 4

noun (1)

com·pound ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd

Synonyms of compound next

: 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

: a word consisting of components that are words (such as rowboat, high school, devil-may-care)

: 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

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

: to add to : augment

compound an error

… had several other medical complications that compounded his condition.—

Jeffrey S. Hollis

: to form by combining parts

compound a medicine

: to put together (parts) so as to form a whole : combine

compound ingredients

… a thick sauce compounded of chilies, garlic, and ginger.—

Andy Birsh

: to settle amicably : adjust by agreement

: to agree for a consideration not to prosecute (an offense)

compound a felony

intransitive verb

: to become joined in a compound

: 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

: composed of or resulting from union of separate elements, ingredients, or parts: such as

: having the blade divided to the midrib and forming two or more leaflets on a common axis

a compound leaf

: composed of united similar elements especially of a kind usually independent

a compound plant ovary

: involving or used in a combination

of a word : made by combining two or more words : constituting a compound (see compound entry 1 sense 2)

"Steamboat" is a compound noun.

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

Example Sentences

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

Often, the effects of climate change compound existing troubles. —

Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 15 May 2023 For months, squatters have been an unwelcome presence at the former Stewart Hotel on Southwest Broadway between Burnside and Ankeny streets, compounding the plight of an area already wrestling with street crime, drug use and vandalism. —

oregonlive, 13 May 2023 The ferry’s owner said the cost and compounding technical issues make switching infeasible. —

Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2023 The market is expected to grow by 3.38 percent, compounded annually, from 2023 to 2028. —

Sanford Stein, Forbes, 7 May 2023 How Henry’s Law Applies to Whiskey Henry’s law is a chemistry law about the amount of different gases—in this case, aroma compounds—that are found dissolved in and floating above a liquid. —

Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 6 May 2023 While cases and deaths were tracked rather meticulously in rich nations, lower-income ones often struggled to correctly report fatalities, as they were compounded with other emergencies. —

Annalisa Merelli, Quartz, 5 May 2023 Andrew Heaney walked the first batter of the game, walked the No. 9 hitter to start innings twice and compounded it all by allowing three homers in the first five innings. —

Evan Grant, Dallas News, 4 May 2023 Are compounding pharmacies offering real semaglutide? —

Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 3 May 2023

Adjective

In fact, based on a recent analysis, the compound annual growth rate of the BCI market is expected to be 16% between 2022 and 2030. —

Quartz Creative For Deloitte, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2023 In 2022, the International Data Corporation said that the market for foldable phones was expected to reach $29 billion in 2025 – a compound annual growth of 70%. —

Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 15 Jan. 2023 These exercises are compound movements that work multiple muscle groups at once. —

Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2022 Deadlifts or squats, on the other hand, are compound moves that require involvement of a whole bunch of other muscles (like your quads, in the case of squats). —

Tiffany Ayuda, SELF, 8 Aug. 2022 For example, despite medical records being dominated by major incumbents (Epic, Cerner and Meditech) at hospital systems, PitchBook is estimating the electronic health record software market segment will hit $47.1 billion by 2026 – a compound annual growth rate of 11%. —

Katie Jennings, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2023 Now, game developers, fitness manufacturers, and app designers are eager to take advantage of an at-home-fitness market expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8 percent from 2021 to 2027, according to Allied Market Research. —

Suzie Glassman, Wired, 21 Dec. 2021 And despite hard seltzer's recent drop-off in growth, Research Markets projects the industry's global market to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 14.4% from 2021 to 2026. —

Brooks Sutherland, The Enquirer, 17 Dec. 2021 German Sacristan, the director of print-on-demand services, said demand is projected to soar past pre-pandemic production by next year and to continue rising at a compound annual rate of 8 percent through 2025. —

NBC News, 19 Nov. 2021

Noun

The secret lies in the clever use of innovative materials like carbon fiber, mesh, and lightweight foam compounds that strike a delicate balance between weight reduction and structural integrity. —

Talene Appleton, menshealth.com, 18 May 2023 To ensure all chemicals are washed from your hair post-swim, professionals recommend keeping an eye out for shampoos with acids and compounds equipped to dissolve chlorine molecules, like vitamin C, sodium thiosulfate, or apple cider vinegar. —

Tiffany Dodson, harpersbazaar.com, 18 May 2023 Malibu is known for its oceanfront compounds, from a $127 million bluff-top estate to a former Disney CEO’s $225 million pad. —

Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 17 May 2023 Set to piano music, the ad starts at the Russian Embassy in Northwest D.C. and shows the journey from the diplomatic compound to FBI headquarters nearly four miles away in downtown D.C. —

Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 16 May 2023 The family includes 5,000 compounds, which are persistent, remaining both in the environment and human body over time. —

Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 15 May 2023 The group moved three lions away from the area and left the other six inside the compound overnight, the group said. —

Francisco Guzman, USA TODAY, 15 May 2023 The risks from the heat compound as the days remain hot, especially for people who live outdoors. —

oregonlive, 15 May 2023 The shells contain two chemical compounds called methylxanthines that are also found in chocolate — theobromine and caffeine. —

Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2023 See More

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

See more words from the same century

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Compound.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compound. Accessed 1 Jun. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

compound

1 of 4 verb

com·pound käm-ˈpau̇nd

kəm-;

ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd

: to put together or be joined to form a whole : combine

: to form by combining parts

compound a medicine

: to settle or adjust by agreement

compound a debt

: to pay in the form of compound interest

interest compounded quarterly

: 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-

: made of or by the union of separate elements or parts

a compound substance

: made up of two or more parts that are alike and form a common whole

a raspberry is a compound fruit

: being a word that is a compound

the compound noun "steamboat"

: 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

: a word consisting of parts that are words

"rowboat," "high school," and "light-year" are compounds

: 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