compound

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /ˈkɒmpaʊnd/
• (General American) enPR: kŏm'pound, IPA: /ˈkɑmpaʊnd/

Noun

compound (plural compounds)

1. An enclosure within which workers, prisoners, or soldiers are confined.
   • Synonyms: gaol, jail, pen, pound, prison; see also prison
2. An enclosure for secure storage.
3. A group of buildings situated close together, e.g. for a school or block of offices.

Pronunciation

• adj. and noun (US) enPR: kŏm'pound, IPA: /ˈkɑmpaʊnd/
• verb (US, UK) enPR: kəmpound', IPA: /kəmˈpaʊnd/

Adjective

compound (not comparable)

1. Composed of elements; not simple.
   • Synonym: composite
   • Antonym: simple
   • a compound word
2. (mathematics) Dealing with numbers of various denominations of quantity, or with processes more complex than the simple process.
   • compound addition
   • compound proportion
3. (music) An octave higher than originally (i.e. a compound major second is equivalent to a major ninth).

Noun

compound (plural compounds)

1. Anything made by combining several things.
   • Synonyms: amalgam, blend, combination, composite, mix, mixture
2. (chemistry) A substance formed by chemical bonding of two or more elements in definite proportions by weight.
   • Coordinate terms: substance, element, mixture, composite
3. (chemistry, dated) A substance made from any combination of ingredients.
4. (linguistics) A lexeme that consists of more than one stem.
   • Synonym: compound word
   • Hyponyms: closed compound, open compound
5. (linguistics) A lexeme that consists of more than one stem or an affix, e.g. bookshop, high school or non-standard.
6. (rail transport) A compound locomotive, a steam locomotive with both high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders.
7. Short for compound exercise.

Verb

compound (third-person singular simple present compounds, present participle compounding, simple past and past participle compounded)

1. (transitive) To form (a resulting mixture) by combining different elements, ingredients, or parts; to mingle with something else.
   • Synonyms: see mix
   • to compound a medicine
2. (transitive, law) To settle by agreeing on less than the claim, or on different terms than those stipulated.
   • Synonym: settle
   • to compound a debt
3. (transitive) To settle amicably; to adjust by agreement.
   • Synonym: compromise
4. (intransitive) To come to terms of agreement; to settle by a compromise.
   • Synonyms: agree; see also agree
   • to compound with someone / for something
5. (transitive, obsolete) To compose; to constitute.
   • Synonyms: see compose
6. (intransitive, finance) To increase in value with interest, where the interest is earned on both the principal sum and prior earned interest.
7. (transitive, see usage notes) To worsen a situation.
   • Synonyms: see make matters worse
8. (horse racing, intransitive) Of a horse: to fail to maintain speed.