Recent Examples on the Web
The movie doesn’t illuminate so much as compound this problem.
—
Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2023
Cases are even rising in some states where HIV prevention investment is lacking, such as Tennessee, where Republican Gov. Bill Lee recently compounded the factors worsening his state’s epidemic by blocking $8.3 million in annual CDC prevention funding.
—Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 18 Mar. 2023
Georgia, the No. 10 seed in the Seattle 4 Region, took control with a dominant second quarter and kept the pressure on the Seminoles, who compounded their problems with poor shooting and costly turnovers.
—Scooby Axson, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2023
Silicon Valley Bank had already been hit hard by a rough patch for technology companies in recent months and the Federal Reserve’s aggressive plan to increase interest rates to combat inflation compounded its problems.
—Christopher Rugaber, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Mar. 2023
Salt only compounds that problem, says Ehsaei.
—Madeleine Burry, Health, 9 Mar. 2023
Those risks will be compounded by the flooding rain that moves in as the storm system approaches, Brian Ochs, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Hanford, California, told ABC News.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 8 Mar. 2023
Microreactors would only compound the problem and spread the radioactive waste around, Mr. Lyman said.
—Jennifer Mcdermott, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Feb. 2023
Ending affirmative action will only compound the many lingering and systemic racial inequities that people of color still face today.
—Jeff Raikes, Forbes, 27 Jan. 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
Metaverse Gets Real: AR And VR On The Rise Influencer Marketing Hub predicts that virtual reality will have a compound annual growth rate of 15% by 2030.
—Raviteja Dodda, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2023
This is why Grand View projects the market’s compound annual growth rate to be a staggering 9.4% for the next several years, equating to the market more than doubling to $525.2 billion by 2030.
—Serenity Gibbons, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2023
With a market share of roughly $571 million in 2021, the compound annual growth rate of green burial practices is expected to be 8.7% until 2030.
—Kira Mautone, Fox News, 18 Feb. 2023
As Fortune previously reported, the global cybersecurity market is expected to reach $403 billion by 2027—making the compound annual growth rate 12.5% from 2020 to 2027.
—Bylucy Brewster, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2023
According to a report from Grand View Research, the US gender-affirming surgery market was valued at $1.9 billion in 2021 and is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 11.23 percent from 2022 to 2030.
—Suzy Katz, Allure, 7 Feb. 2023
The local Buddhist temple in Baan Ta Klang lets villagers tie up their elephants in its compound, which also has an elephant cemetery.
—Muktita Suhartono, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Apr. 2023
The local Buddhist temple in Baan Ta Klang lets villagers tie up their elephants in its compound, which also has an elephant cemetery.
—Muktita Suhartono Ulet Ifansasti, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2023
Confrontations at the hilltop compound have triggered wider violence in the region in the past.
—Isabel Debre, ajc, 1 Apr. 2023
Other insects may need to contact the compound in order to detect it, and they may be repelled by the taste.
—Claire Gillespie, Health, 31 Mar. 2023
The family began construction in the early ‘90s and the compound took several decades to complete, according to Tere Foster of Compass, who holds the listing with colleague Moya Skillman.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 30 Mar. 2023
Best to lock him up in his resort compound and pitch the key into the Atlantic Ocean.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2023
Without it, the compounds remain relatively inert, like the food in your freezer.
—Sophia Chen, WIRED, 29 Mar. 2023
Those concerns are largely justified: The compound’s presence in the U.S. drug supply has sent overdose rates soaring.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 28 Mar. 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.
com·pound 1
(kŏm-pound′, kəm-, kŏm′pound′)
v. com·pound·ed, com·pound·ing, com·pounds
v.tr.
1. To combine so as to form a whole; mix: Tin was often compounded with lead to make pewter.
2. To produce or create by combining two or more ingredients or parts; compose or make up: pharmacists compounding prescriptions.
3. To settle (a debt, for example) by agreeing on an amount less than the claim; adjust.
4. To compute (interest) on the principal and accrued interest.
5.
a. To add to or intensify so as to make worse: «The university authorities … compounded their crime in dismissing [the professor] by denying that their action … reflected any abridgment of academic freedom» (John Kenneth Galbraith).
b. To make worse by being an additional or intensifying factor: High winds compounded the difficulties of the firefighters.
v.intr.
1. To combine in or form a compound.
2. To come to terms; agree.
adj. (kŏm′pound′, kŏm-pound′, kəm-)
1. Consisting of two or more substances, ingredients, elements, or parts.
2. Botany Composed of more than one part: a compound pistil.
n. (kŏm′pound′)
1. A combination of two or more elements or parts.
2. Linguistics A word that consists either of two or more elements that are independent words, such as loudspeaker, self-portrait, or high school, or of specially modified combining forms of words, such as Greek philosophia, from philo-, «loving,» and sophia, «wisdom.»
3. Chemistry A pure, macroscopically homogeneous substance consisting of atoms or ions of two or more different elements in definite proportions that cannot be separated by physical means. A compound usually has properties unlike those of its constituent elements.
[Alteration of Middle English compounen, from Old French componre, compondre, to put together, from Latin compōnere; see component.]
com·pound′a·ble adj.
com·pound′er n.
com·pound 2
(kŏm′pound′)
n.
1. A building or buildings, especially a residence or group of residences, set off and enclosed by a barrier.
2. An enclosed area used for confining prisoners of war.
[Alteration of Malay kampong, village.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
compound
n
1. (Chemistry) a substance that contains atoms of two or more chemical elements held together by chemical bonds
2. any combination of two or more parts, aspects, etc
3. (Linguistics) a word formed from two existing words or combining forms
vb (mainly tr)
4. to mix or combine so as to create a compound or other product
5. to make by combining parts, elements, aspects, etc: to compound a new plastic.
6. to intensify by an added element: his anxiety was compounded by her crying.
7. (Banking & Finance) finance to calculate or pay (interest) on both the principal and its accrued interest
8. (also intr) to come to an agreement in (a quarrel, dispute, etc)
9. (Banking & Finance) (also intr) to settle (a debt, promise, etc) for less than what is owed; compromise
10. (Law) law to agree not to prosecute in return for a consideration: to compound a crime.
11. (Electrical Engineering) electrical engineering to place duplex windings on the field coil of (a motor or generator), one acting as a shunt, the other being in series with the main circuit, thus making the machine self-regulating
adj
12. composed of or created by the combination of two or more parts, elements, etc
13. (Linguistics) (of a word) consisting of elements that are also words or productive combining forms
14. (Grammar) (of a sentence) formed by coordination of two or more sentences
15. (Grammar) (of a verb or the tense, mood, etc, of a verb) formed by using an auxiliary verb in addition to the main verb: the future in English is a compound tense involving the use of such auxiliary verbs as ‘shall’ and ‘will’.
16. (Music, other) music
a. denoting a time in which the number of beats per bar is a multiple of three: six-four is an example of compound time.
b. (of an interval) greater than an octave
17. (Zoology) zoology another word for colonial6
18. (Mechanical Engineering) (of a steam engine, turbine, etc) having multiple stages in which the steam or working fluid from one stage is used in a subsequent stage
19. (Mechanical Engineering) (of a piston engine) having a turbocharger powered by a turbine in the exhaust stream
[C14: from earlier compounen, from Old French compondre to collect, set in order, from Latin compōnere]
comˈpoundable adj
comˈpounder n
compound
(ˈkɒmpaʊnd)
n
1. (Mining & Quarrying) (esp formerly in South Africa) an enclosure, esp on the mines, containing the living quarters for Black workers
2. any similar enclosure, such as a camp for prisoners of war
3. (Historical Terms) (formerly in India, China, etc) the enclosure in which a European’s house or factory stood
[C17: by folk etymology (influenced by compound1) from Malay kampong village]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
com•pound1
(adj. ˈkɒm paʊnd, kɒmˈpaʊnd; n. ˈkɒm paʊnd; v. kəmˈpaʊnd, ˈkɒm paʊnd)
adj.
1. composed of two or more parts, elements, or ingredients: Soap is a compound substance.
2. having or involving two or more actions or functions: The mouth is a compound organ.
3. (of a word)
a. consisting of two or more parts that are also words, as housetop, many-sided, playact, or upon.
b. consisting of two or more parts that are also bases, as biochemistry or ethnography.
4. (of a verb tense) consisting of an auxiliary verb and a main verb, as are swimming, have spoken, or will write (opposed to simple).
5. composed of several similar parts that combine to form a whole: a compound fruit.
6. composed of a number of distinct but connected individuals, as coral.
n.
7. something formed by compounding or combining parts, elements, etc.
8. a pure substance composed of two or more elements whose chemical composition is constant.
9. a compound word, esp. one composed of two or more words that are otherwise unaltered, as moonflower or rainstorm.
v.t.
10. to put together into a whole; combine: to compound drugs to form a new medicine.
11. to make or form by combining parts, elements, etc.; construct: a medicine compounded from various drugs.
12. to increase or add to, esp. so as to worsen: a problem that was compounded by their isolation.
13. to settle or adjust by agreement, esp. for a reduced amount, as a debt.
14. to agree, for a consideration, not to prosecute or punish a wrongdoer for: to compound a crime or felony.
15. to pay (interest) on the accrued interest as well as the principal.
v.i.
16. to make a bargain; come to terms; compromise.
17. to form a compound.
[1350–1400; Middle English compounen < Middle French compon-, s. of compondre < Latin compōnere; see component]
com•pound′a•ble, adj.
com•pound′ed•ness, n.
com•pound′er, n.
com•pound2
(ˈkɒm paʊnd)
n.
a separate area, usu. fenced or walled, containing residences, business offices, barracks, or other structures.
[1670–80; alter., by association with compound1, of Malay kampung village, collection, gathering; compare kampong]
Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
com·pound
(kŏm′pound′)
Noun
Chemistry A substance made up of two or more elements joined by chemical bonds into a molecule. The elements are combined in a definite ratio. Water, for example, is a compound having two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom in each molecule.
Adjective
Composed of more than one part, as a compound eye or leaf.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Compound
a union; a chemical bonding of elements—Wilkes.
Example: compound of two liquids, 1710.
Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
compound
Past participle: compounded
Gerund: compounding
| Imperative |
|---|
| compound |
| compound |
| Present |
|---|
| I compound |
| you compound |
| he/she/it compounds |
| we compound |
| you compound |
| they compound |
| Preterite |
|---|
| I compounded |
| you compounded |
| he/she/it compounded |
| we compounded |
| you compounded |
| they compounded |
| Present Continuous |
|---|
| I am compounding |
| you are compounding |
| he/she/it is compounding |
| we are compounding |
| you are compounding |
| they are compounding |
| Present Perfect |
|---|
| I have compounded |
| you have compounded |
| he/she/it has compounded |
| we have compounded |
| you have compounded |
| they have compounded |
| Past Continuous |
|---|
| I was compounding |
| you were compounding |
| he/she/it was compounding |
| we were compounding |
| you were compounding |
| they were compounding |
| Past Perfect |
|---|
| I had compounded |
| you had compounded |
| he/she/it had compounded |
| we had compounded |
| you had compounded |
| they had compounded |
| Future |
|---|
| I will compound |
| you will compound |
| he/she/it will compound |
| we will compound |
| you will compound |
| they will compound |
| Future Perfect |
|---|
| I will have compounded |
| you will have compounded |
| he/she/it will have compounded |
| we will have compounded |
| you will have compounded |
| they will have compounded |
| Future Continuous |
|---|
| I will be compounding |
| you will be compounding |
| he/she/it will be compounding |
| we will be compounding |
| you will be compounding |
| they will be compounding |
| Present Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I have been compounding |
| you have been compounding |
| he/she/it has been compounding |
| we have been compounding |
| you have been compounding |
| they have been compounding |
| Future Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I will have been compounding |
| you will have been compounding |
| he/she/it will have been compounding |
| we will have been compounding |
| you will have been compounding |
| they will have been compounding |
| Past Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I had been compounding |
| you had been compounding |
| he/she/it had been compounding |
| we had been compounding |
| you had been compounding |
| they had been compounding |
| Conditional |
|---|
| I would compound |
| you would compound |
| he/she/it would compound |
| we would compound |
| you would compound |
| they would compound |
| Past Conditional |
|---|
| I would have compounded |
| you would have compounded |
| he/she/it would have compounded |
| we would have compounded |
| you would have compounded |
| they would have compounded |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
compound
A word formed from two or more other words or word parts.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Noun | 1. | compound — a whole formed by a union of two or more elements or parts
whole — all of something including all its component elements or parts; «Europe considered as a whole»; «the whole of American literature» |
| 2. | compound — (chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight
chemical compound chemical science, chemistry — the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions vanillin — a crystalline compound found in vanilla beans and some balsam resins; used in perfumes and flavorings acceptor — (chemistry) in the formation of a coordinate bond it is the compound to which electrons are donated adduct — a compound formed by an addition reaction antiknock — any of various compounds that are added to gasoline to reduce engine knocking acid — any of various water-soluble compounds having a sour taste and capable of turning litmus red and reacting with a base to form a salt arsenide — a compound of arsenic with a more positive element hydrogen cyanide — a highly poisonous gas or volatile liquid that smells like bitter almonds; becomes a gas at around 90 degree Fahrenheit and is most dangerous when inhaled; the anhydride of hydrocyanic acid; used in manufacturing anionic compound — a compound characterized by an active anion alkali, base — any of various water-soluble compounds capable of turning litmus blue and reacting with an acid to form a salt and water; «bases include oxides and hydroxides of metals and ammonia» binary compound — chemical compound composed of only two elements taurine — a colorless crystalline substance obtained from the bile of mammals chromogen — a compound that can be converted to a pigment manganese tetroxide — an oxide of manganese found naturally as hausmannite monomer — a simple compound whose molecules can join together to form polymers ozonide — any of a class of unstable chemical compounds resulting from the addition of ozone to a double bond in an unsaturated compound organic compound — any compound of carbon and another element or a radical ammine — a complex inorganic compound that contains ammonia molecules anhydride — a compound formed from one or more other compounds in a reaction resulting in removal of water azide — a chemical compound containing the azido group combined with an element or radical bitter principle — any one of several hundred compounds having a bitter taste; not admitting of chemical classification buffer — (chemistry) an ionic compound that resists changes in its pH calcium-cyanamide, cyanamide — a compound used as a fertilizer and as a source of nitrogen compounds carbonyl — a compound containing metal combined with carbon monoxide carbon disulfide — a toxic colorless flammable liquid (CS2); used in the manufacture of rayon and cellophane and carbon tetrachloride and as a solvent for rubber cofactor — a substance (as a coenzyme) that must join with another to produce a given result cementite, iron carbide — a chemical compound that is a constituent of steel and cast iron; very hard and brittle chemical, chemical substance — material produced by or used in a reaction involving changes in atoms or molecules chloropicrin, nitrochloroform — a heavy colorless insoluble liquid compound that causes tears and vomiting; used as a pesticide and as tear gas coordination compound, complex — a compound described in terms of the central atom to which other atoms are bound or coordinated allomorph — any of several different crystalline forms of the same chemical compound; «calcium carbonate occurs in the allomorphs calcite and aragonite» corrosive — a substance having the tendency to cause corrosion (such a strong acids or alkali) aluminate — a compound of alumina and a metallic oxide defoliant — a chemical that is sprayed on plants and causes their leaves to fall off depilatory — a chemical (usually a sulfide) used to remove hair or wool or bristles from hides derivative — a compound obtained from, or regarded as derived from, another compound dimer — a compound whose molecules are composed of two identical monomers fixing agent, fixer — a chemical compound that sets or fixes something (as a dye or a photographic image) flavone — a colorless crystalline compound that is part of a number of white or yellow plant pigments formulation, preparation — a substance prepared according to a formula; «the physician prescribed a commercial preparation of the medicine» enantiomer, enantiomorph — either one of a pair of compounds (crystals or molecules) that are mirror images on each other but are not identical exotherm — a compound that gives off heat during its formation and absorbs heat during its decomposition goitrogen — any substance (such as thiouracil) that induces the formation of a goiter benzofuran, coumarone, cumarone — a colorless oily compound extracted from coal tar and used in manufacturing synthetic resins synthetic, synthetic substance — a compound made artificially by chemical reactions |
|
| 3. | compound — an enclosure of residences and other building (especially in the Orient)
enclosure — a structure consisting of an area that has been enclosed for some purpose |
|
| Verb | 1. | compound — make more intense, stronger, or more marked; «The efforts were intensified», «Her rudeness intensified his dislike for her»; «Pot smokers claim it heightens their awareness»; «This event only deepened my convictions»
deepen, intensify, heighten increase — become bigger or greater in amount; «The amount of work increased» screw up, hot up, heat up — make more intense; «Emotions were screwed up» fan — make (an emotion) fiercer; «fan hatred» enhance, heighten, raise — increase; «This will enhance your enjoyment»; «heighten the tension» amplify — increase the volume of; «amplify sound» sharpen — make crisp or more crisp and precise; «We had to sharpen our arguments» heighten, sharpen — make (one’s senses) more acute; «This drug will sharpen your vision» |
| 2. | compound — put or add together; «combine resources»
combine add — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of; «We added two students to that dorm room»; «She added a personal note to her letter»; «Add insult to injury»; «Add some extra plates to the dinner table» totalise, totalize — make into a total; «Can we totalize these different ideas into one philosophy?» recombine — to combine or put together again mix — combine (electronic signals); «mixing sounds» synthesise, synthesize — combine so as to form a more complex, product; «his operas synthesize music and drama in perfect harmony»; «The liver synthesizes vitamins» |
|
| 3. | compound — calculate principal and interest
account, calculate — keep an account of |
|
| 4. | compound — create by mixing or combining
assemble, put together, tack together, set up, piece, tack — create by putting components or members together; «She pieced a quilt»; «He tacked together some verses»; «They set up a committee» |
|
| 5. | compound — combine so as to form a whole; mix; «compound the ingredients»
combine incorporate, integrate — make into a whole or make part of a whole; «She incorporated his suggestions into her proposal» heterodyne — combine (a radio frequency wave) with a locally generated wave of a different frequency so as to produce a new frequency equal to the sum or the difference between the two sulfurette, sulphurette — combine with sulfur amalgamate, commix, mingle, unify, mix — to bring or combine together or with something else; «resourcefully he mingled music and dance» carburet — combine with carbon |
|
| Adj. | 1. | compound — composed of more than one part; «compound leaves are composed of several lobes; «compound flower heads»
phytology, botany — the branch of biology that studies plants complex — complicated in structure; consisting of interconnected parts; «a complex set of variations based on a simple folk melody»; «a complex mass of diverse laws and customs» smooth — of the margin of a leaf shape; not broken up into teeth rough — of the margin of a leaf shape; having the edge cut or fringed or scalloped unsubdivided, simple — (botany) of leaf shapes; of leaves having no divisions or subdivisions |
| 2. | compound — consisting of two or more substances or ingredients or elements or parts; «soap is a compound substance»; «housetop is a compound word»; «a blackberry is a compound fruit»
complex — complicated in structure; consisting of interconnected parts; «a complex set of variations based on a simple folk melody»; «a complex mass of diverse laws and customs» |
|
| 3. | compound — composed of many distinct individuals united to form a whole or colony; «coral is a colonial organism»
colonial zoological science, zoology — the branch of biology that studies animals complex — complicated in structure; consisting of interconnected parts; «a complex set of variations based on a simple folk melody»; «a complex mass of diverse laws and customs» |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
compound
noun
1. combination, mixture, blend, composite, conglomerate, fusion, synthesis, alloy, medley, amalgam, meld, composition Organic compounds contain carbon in their molecules.
combination element
verb
1. intensify, add to, complicate, worsen, heighten, exacerbate, aggravate, magnify, augment, add insult to injury Additional bloodshed will only compound the misery.
intensify moderate, modify, decrease, lessen, minimize
2. combine, unite, mix, blend, fuse, mingle, synthesize, concoct, amalgamate, coalesce, intermingle, meld An emotion oddly compounded of pleasure and bitterness flooded over me.
combine part, divide, segregate
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
compound
verb
To bring or come together into a united whole:
coalesce, combine, concrete, conjoin, conjugate, connect, consolidate, couple, join, link, marry, meld, unify, unite, wed, yoke.
adjective
Consisting of two or more interconnected parts:
noun
The American Heritage® Roget’s Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
-
Defenition of the word compound
- An enclosure of residences and other buildings.
- A word formed by combining other words.
- A chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical elements chemically bonded together, with a fixed ratio determining the composition.
- (zoology) composed of many distinct individuals united to form a whole or colony; «coral is a colonial organism»
- (botany) especially of leaf shapes; composed of several similar parts or lobes
- consisting of two or more substances or ingredients or elements or parts; «soap is a compound substance»; «housetop is a compound word»; «a blackberry is a compound fruid»
- an enclosure of residences and other building (especially in the Orient)
- a whole formed by a union of two or more elements or parts
- create by mixing or combining
- calculate principal and interest
- (chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight
- put or add together; «combine resources»
- combine so as to form a whole; mix; «compound the ingredients»
- make more intense, stronger, or more marked; «The efforts were intensified», «Her rudeness intensified his dislike for her», «Potsmokers claim it heightens their awareness»
- make more intense, stronger, or more marked; «The efforts were intensified», «Her rudeness intensified his dislike for her»; «Potsmokers claim it heightens their awareness»; «This event only deepened my convictions»
- of leaf shapes; of leaves composed of several similar parts or lobes
- composed of many distinct individuals united to form a whole or colony; «coral is a colonial organism»
- consisting of two or more substances or ingredients or elements or parts; «soap is a compound substance»; «housetop is a compound word»; «a blackberry is a compound fruit»
- put or add together
- make more intense, stronger, or more marked
- combine so as to form a whole; mix
- composed of more than one part
- composed of many distinct individuals united to form a whole or colony
- consisting of two or more substances or ingredients or elements or parts
Synonyms for the word compound
-
- chemical compound
- colonial
- combine
- deepen
- heighten
- intensify
Similar words in the compound
-
- abruptly-pinnate
- bilobate
- bilobated
- bilobed
- binate
- bipartite
- bipinnate
- bipinnatifid
- cleft
- complex
- conjugate
- decompound
- dissected
- even-pinnate
- imparipinnate
- incised
- lobate
- lobed
- odd-pinnate
- palm-shaped
- palmate
- palmatifid
- paripinnate
- parted
- pedate
- pinnate
- pinnated
- pinnatifid
- pinnatisect
- quinquefoliate
- rough
- smooth
- ternate
- trifoliate
- trifoliated
- trifoliolate
- trilobate
- trilobated
- trilobed
- tripinnate
- tripinnated
- tripinnatifid
Hyponyms for the word compound
-
- acceptor
- acid
- adduct
- alkali
- allomorph
- aluminate
- ammine
- amplify
- anhydride
- anionic compound
- antiknock
- arsenide
- azide
- base
- benzofuran
- benzoquinone
- binary compound
- bitter principle
- buffer
- calcium-cyanamide
- carbon disulfide
- carbonyl
- carburet
- caustic
- cementite
- chloride
- chloropicrin
- chromogen
- cofactor
- complex
- coordination compound
- corrosive
- coumarone
- cumarone
- cyanamide
- defoliant
- depilatory
- derivative
- dimer
- enamel
- enantiomer
- enantiomorph
- enhance
- exotherm
- fan
- fixer
- fixing agent
- flavone
- formulation
- goitrogen
- heat up
- heighten
- heterocycle
- heterocyclic
- heterocyclic compound
- heterodyne
- hot up
- hydrate
- hydrated oxide
- hydrogen cyanide
- hydroxide
- incense
- incorporate
- inorganic compound
- integrate
- iodocompound
- iron carbide
- isomer
- manganese tetroxide
- menthol
- mix
- monomer
- nitrate
- nitride
- nitrochloroform
- nitrogen mustard
- organic compound
- oxide
- ozonide
- polymer
- pregnanediol
- preparation
- preservative
- quinone
- raise
- recombine
- repellant
- repellent
- salt
- screw up
- sharpen
- silicide
- siloxane
- solvate
- sternutator
- sternutatory
- stripper
- sulfide
- sulfurette
- sulphide
- sulphurette
- synthesise
- synthesize
- synthetic
- synthetic substance
- taurine
- telluride
- tenderiser
- tenderizer
- tetrachloride
- totalise
- totalize
- triazine
- U308
- vanillin
- yellowcake
Hypernyms for the word compound
-
- account
- add
- amalgamate
- assemble
- calculate
- chemical
- chemical substance
- commix
- enclosure
- increase
- matter
- mingle
- mix
- piece
- put together
- set up
- substance
- tack
- tack together
- unify
- whole
Antonyms for the word compound
-
- simple
- unsubdivided
See other words
-
- What is company
- The definition of companion
- The interpretation of the word compact space
- What is meant by community
- The lexical meaning commonwealth
- The dictionary meaning of the word common sense
- The grammatical meaning of the word common ground
- Meaning of the word commode
- Literal and figurative meaning of the word commissurotomy
- The origin of the word compresence
- Synonym for the word comptroller
- Antonyms for the word computer
- Homonyms for the word comrade
- Hyponyms for the word con
- Holonyms for the word con moto
- Hypernyms for the word conceit
- Proverbs and sayings for the word conception
- Translation of the word in other languages conceptus
- Top Definitions
- Quiz
- Related Content
- Examples
- British
- Scientific
- Cultural
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
[ adjective kom-pound, kom-pound; noun kom-pound; verb kuhm-pound, kom-pound ]
/ adjective ˈkɒm paʊnd, kɒmˈpaʊnd; noun ˈkɒm paʊnd; verb kəmˈpaʊnd, ˈkɒm paʊnd /
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
adjective
composed of two or more parts, elements, or ingredients: Soap is a compound substance.
having or involving two or more actions or functions: The mouth is a compound organ.
Grammar. of or relating to a compound sentence or compound-complex sentence.
(of a word)
- consisting of two or more parts that are also bases, forming a compound noun,compound adjective,compound verb, or compound preposition, as housetop, many-sided, playact, or upon.
- consisting of any two or more parts that have identifiable meaning, as a base and a noninflectional affix (return, follower), a base and a combining form (biochemistry), two combining forms (ethnography), or a combining form and a noninflectional affix (aviary, dentoid).
(of a verb tense) consisting of an auxiliary verb and a main verb, as are swimming, have spoken, or will write (opposed to simple).
Botany. composed of several similar parts that combine to form a whole: a compound fruit.
Zoology. composed of a number of distinct individuals that are connected to form a united whole or colony, as coral.
Music. of or relating to compound time.
Machinery. noting an engine or turbine expanding the same steam or the like in two successive chambers to do work at two ranges of pressure.
noun
something formed by compounding or combining parts, elements, etc.
Chemistry. a pure substance composed of two or more elements whose composition is constant.
a compound word, especially one composed of two or more words that are otherwise unaltered, as moonflower or rainstorm.
verb (used with object)
to put together into a whole; combine: to compound drugs to form a new medicine.
to make or form by combining parts, elements, etc.; construct: to compound a new plan from parts of several former plans.
to make up or constitute: all the organs and members that compound a human body.
to settle or adjust by agreement, especially for a reduced amount, as a debt.
Law. to agree, for a consideration, not to prosecute or punish a wrongdoer for: to compound a crime or felony.
to pay (interest) on the accrued interest as well as the principal: My bank compounds interest quarterly.
to increase or add to: The misery of his loneliness was now compounded by his poverty.
Electricity. to connect a portion of the field turns of (a direct-current dynamo) in series with the armature circuit.
verb (used without object)
to make a bargain; come to terms; compromise.
to settle a debt, claim, etc., by compromise.
VIDEO FOR COMPOUND
How To Know If A Term Is One Word Or Two Words
English loves to take existing words and smash them together so they act as one unit. This is called compounding. But how do you know if a word is one word or two?
MORE VIDEOS FROM DICTIONARY.COM
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Which sentence is correct?
Origin of compound
1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb componen, compounen, compownen, from Old French compon- (stem of compondre ), from Latin compōnere, equivalent to com- com- + pōnere “to put”; Middle English adjective compouned, past participle of componen, as above
historical usage of compound
The English verb compound, first appearing in Middle English in the late 14th century as compounen, compownen, comes from Old French compondre, compundre “to direct, arrange,” from Latin compōnere “to put together, add together, match, match up.” The adjective compound, originally a past participle of the verb, is also recorded at the end of the 14th century. The noun, a development of the adjectival sense, is recorded considerably later, in the first half of the 16th century.
The final, unetymological -d in compound arose during the 16th century; it is of the same origin as the -d in the English word sound (meaning “noise”), which developed from the earlier English soun (from Old French son, from Latin sonus ), and the archaic verb round “to whisper,” a derivative of rune “a secret.”
OTHER WORDS FROM compound
com·pound·a·ble, adjectivecom·pound·ed·ness, nouncom·pound·er, nounnon·com·pound·a·ble, adjective
un·com·pound·a·ble, adjectiveun·com·pound·ed, adjectiveun·com·pound·ing, adjective
Words nearby compound
composure, compotation, compotator, compote, compotier, compound, compound annual return, compound-complex sentence, compound engine, compound eye, compound fault
Other definitions for compound (2 of 2)
compound2
[ kom-pound ]
/ ˈkɒm paʊnd /
noun
an enclosure, especially one for prisoners.
an enclosed or protected area where a group of people live or work, such as a military base.
any separate cluster of homes, often owned by members of the same family.
Origin of compound
2
First recorded in 1670–80; alteration, by association with compound1, of Malay kampung “village, collection, gathering”; cf. kampong
historical usage of compound
The noun compound “a large, enclosed area” most likely comes from Malay kampong, kampung “fenced-in space, enclosure, village, a part of town inhabited by a particular nationality.” Compound originally referred to the European (originally Portuguese, Dutch, English) complexes of residences, factories, and warehouses in the East Indies, India, and China. Kampong, kampung was associated in English with the noun compound “something consisting of several parts” by 1679, when the sense “a large, enclosed area” is first recorded. The term was also used in the 19th century to describe a similar confined living area for African laborers, especially miners. By the mid-20th century, the sense of “large, walled-in space in a prison or other detention camp” first appears.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Words related to compound
add to, aggravate, exacerbate, heighten, intensify, magnify, multiply, worsen, admixture, aggregate, alloy, amalgam, amalgamation, blend, combo, commixture, composite, composition, compost, conglomerate
How to use compound in a sentence
-
With Covid-19 compounding the health threat of wildfire smoke, this year’s fires are putting an unprecedented strain on communities.
-
This could release compounds that might move through the air — right to someone’s nose.
-
A leucine-rich diet may increase your risk of obesity or type 2 diabetes, in theory because the compound sends your body a “time to grow!”
-
At Towson University in Maryland, chemist Shannon Stitzel is tracing cocoa to its roots using organic compounds, which are mostly produced by the cocoa plant itself.
-
Local media reports that Beijing initiated the idea of universal testing, rather than Hong Kong’s Legislative Council, have compounded those concerns.
-
He scrambled outside to find a 25-foot-wide crater just beyond the mud wall surrounding his family compound.
-
Less than 30 minutes after the firefight started, commandos entered the compound and found the mortally wounded hostages.
-
They say that the Israelis framed him in order to light the powder keg of religious war over the al-Aqsa compound.
-
The Holy City, specifically the al-Aqsa compound, has been the flashpoint for the latest round of conflict.
-
Now the lead breacher explained how he cut through the steel doors bin Laden used to seal himself into the compound at night.
-
He, with others, thinking the miss-sahib had gone to church, was smoking the hookah of gossip in a neighboring compound.
-
They held the compound against repeated assaults, and lost several men in hand-to-hand fighting.
-
Passing a bungalow that was blazing furiously, he saw in the compound the corpses of two women.
-
The body of a young woman was found in the compound outside my bungalow, done to death in precisely the same way.
-
The compound was washed on the fifth of May, and a grain of gold weighing one and one-half reals was obtained.
British Dictionary definitions for compound (1 of 2)
noun (ˈkɒmpaʊnd)
a substance that contains atoms of two or more chemical elements held together by chemical bonds
any combination of two or more parts, aspects, etc
a word formed from two existing words or combining forms
verb (kəmˈpaʊnd) (mainly tr)
to mix or combine so as to create a compound or other product
to make by combining parts, elements, aspects, etcto compound a new plastic
to intensify by an added elementhis anxiety was compounded by her crying
finance to calculate or pay (interest) on both the principal and its accrued interest
(also intr) to come to an agreement in (a quarrel, dispute, etc)
(also intr) to settle (a debt, promise, etc) for less than what is owed; compromise
law to agree not to prosecute in return for a considerationto compound a crime
electrical engineering to place duplex windings on the field coil of (a motor or generator), one acting as a shunt, the other being in series with the main circuit, thus making the machine self-regulating
adjective (ˈkɒmpaʊnd)
composed of or created by the combination of two or more parts, elements, etc
(of a word) consisting of elements that are also words or productive combining forms
(of a sentence) formed by coordination of two or more sentences
(of a verb or the tense, mood, etc, of a verb) formed by using an auxiliary verb in addition to the main verbthe future in English is a compound tense involving the use of such auxiliary verbs as « shall » and « will »
music
- denoting a time in which the number of beats per bar is a multiple of threesix-four is an example of compound time
- (of an interval) greater than an octave
(of a steam engine, turbine, etc) having multiple stages in which the steam or working fluid from one stage is used in a subsequent stage
(of a piston engine) having a turbocharger powered by a turbine in the exhaust stream
Derived forms of compound
compoundable, adjectivecompounder, noun
Word Origin for compound
C14: from earlier compounen, from Old French compondre to collect, set in order, from Latin compōnere
British Dictionary definitions for compound (2 of 2)
noun
(esp formerly in South Africa) an enclosure, esp on the mines, containing the living quarters for Black workers
any similar enclosure, such as a camp for prisoners of war
(formerly in India, China, etc) the enclosure in which a European’s house or factory stood
Word Origin for compound
C17: by folk etymology (influenced by compound 1) from Malay kampong village
Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for compound
A substance consisting of atoms or ions of two or more different elements in definite proportions joined by chemical bonds into a molecule. The elements cannot be separated by physical means. Water, for example, is a compound having two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom per molecule.
Adjective
Composed of more than one part, as a compound eye or leaf.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for compound
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
a crystalline compound found in vanilla beans and some balsam resins; used in perfumes and flavorings
(chemistry) in the formation of a coordinate bond it is the compound to which electrons are donated
a compound formed by an addition reaction
any of various compounds that are added to gasoline to reduce engine knocking
any of various water-soluble compounds having a sour taste and capable of turning litmus red and reacting with a base to form a salt
a compound of arsenic with a more positive element
a highly poisonous gas or volatile liquid that smells like bitter almonds; becomes a gas at around 90 degree Fahrenheit and is most dangerous when inhaled; the anhydride of hydrocyanic acid; used in manufacturing
a compound characterized by an active anion
any of various water-soluble compounds capable of turning litmus blue and reacting with an acid to form a salt and water
chemical compound composed of only two elements
a colorless crystalline substance obtained from the bile of mammals
a compound that can be converted to a pigment
an oxide of manganese found naturally as hausmannite
a simple compound whose molecules can join together to form polymers
any of a class of unstable chemical compounds resulting from the addition of ozone to a double bond in an unsaturated compound
any compound of carbon and another element or a radical
a complex inorganic compound that contains ammonia molecules
a compound formed from one or more other compounds in a reaction resulting in removal of water
a chemical compound containing the azido group combined with an element or radical
any one of several hundred compounds having a bitter taste; not admitting of chemical classification
(chemistry) an ionic compound that resists changes in its pH
a compound used as a fertilizer and as a source of nitrogen compounds
a compound containing metal combined with carbon monoxide
a toxic colorless flammable liquid (CS2); used in the manufacture of rayon and cellophane and carbon tetrachloride and as a solvent for rubber
a substance (as a coenzyme) that must join with another to produce a given result
a chemical compound that is a constituent of steel and cast iron; very hard and brittle
a heavy colorless insoluble liquid compound that causes tears and vomiting; used as a pesticide and as tear gas
a compound described in terms of the central atom to which other atoms are bound or coordinated
any of several different crystalline forms of the same chemical compound
a substance having the tendency to cause corrosion (such a strong acids or alkali)
a compound of alumina and a metallic oxide
a chemical that is sprayed on plants and causes their leaves to fall off
a chemical (usually a sulfide) used to remove hair or wool or bristles from hides
a compound obtained from, or regarded as derived from, another compound
a compound whose molecules are composed of two identical monomers
a chemical compound that sets or fixes something (as a dye or a photographic image)
a colorless crystalline compound that is part of a number of white or yellow plant pigments
a substance prepared according to a formula
either one of a pair of compounds (crystals or molecules) that are mirror images on each other but are not identical
a compound that gives off heat during its formation and absorbs heat during its decomposition
any substance (such as thiouracil) that induces the formation of a goiter
a colorless oily compound extracted from coal tar and used in manufacturing synthetic resins
a compound made artificially by chemical reactions
any compound that contains water of crystallization
a chemical compound containing the hydroxyl group
a substance that produces a fragrant odor when burned
any compound that does not contain carbon
a chemical substance that repels animals
a compound with which fabrics are treated to repel water
a compound containing the covalent iodine radical
a compound that exists in forms having different arrangements of atoms but the same molecular weight
a compound of an oxide with water
a crystalline compound that has the cool and minty taste and odor that occurs naturally in peppermint oil; used as a flavoring and in medicine to relieve itching, pain, and nasal congestion
a toxic compound resembling mustard gas in structure; important in cancer treatment
a compound containing nitrogen and a more electropositive element (such as phosphorus or a metal)
any compound of oxygen with another element or a radical
a naturally occurring or synthetic compound consisting of large molecules made up of a linked series of repeated simple monomers
a chemical compound that is added to protect against decay or decomposition
any of a class of aromatic yellow compounds including several that are biologically important as coenzymes or acceptors or vitamins; used in making dyes
a compound formed by replacing hydrogen in an acid by a metal (or a radical that acts like a metal)
any chemical substance that burns or destroys living tissue
any compound containing the nitrate group (such as a salt or ester of nitric acid)
any compound containing a chlorine atom
a compound containing a heterocyclic ring
any of various compounds of silicon with a more electropositive element or radical
any of a large class of compounds that have alternate silicon and oxygen atoms
a compound formed by solvation (the combination of solvent molecules with molecules or ions of the solute)
a chemical substance that causes sneezing and coughing and crying
a chemical compound used to remove paint or varnish
a compound of sulphur and some other element that is more electropositive
any binary compound of tellurium with other more electropositive elements
a substance (as the plant enzyme papain) applied to meat to make it tender
any compound that contains four chlorine atoms per molecule
any of three isomeric compounds having three carbon and three nitrogen atoms in a six-membered ring
an impure mixture of uranium oxides obtained during the processing of uranium ore
a colored glassy compound (opaque or partially opaque) that is fused to the surface of metal or glass or pottery for decoration or protection
a compound found in women’s urine during certain phases of the menstrual cycle and in the urine of pregnant women
a preparation used in cleaning something
any of a class of highly reactive chemical compounds; used in making resins and dyes and organic acids
an acid formed as an intermediate product of the metabolism of tyrosine and phenylalanine
a synthetic material resembling clay but remaining soft; used as a substitute for clay or wax in modeling (especially in schools)
a salt or ester of acetic acid
a clear oily poisonous liquid added to gasoline to prevent knocking
organic compound that is an alkane or alkene or alkyne or their derivative
organic compound that has an alkyl group bound to a benzene ring
organic compound in which halogen atoms have been substituted for hydrogen atoms in an alkane
organic compounds containing an amino group and a carboxylic acid group
a salt or ester of citric acid
any organic compound containing two amino groups
an organic compound that contains a hydroxyl group bonded to a carbon atom which in turn is doubly bonded to another carbon atom
a salt or ester of arsenic acid
an acid formed from arsenic pentoxide
a white solid fatty acid found in waxes (such as beeswax)
any salt of chloric acid
(HClO3) a strong unstable acid with an acrid odor found in chlorate salts
(HClO2) a strongly oxidizing acid; known only in solution
an acid containing only one replaceable hydrogen atom per molecule
an acid containing two replaceable hydrogen atoms per molecule
a salt derived by replacing two hydrogen atoms per molecule
an acid containing three replaceable hydrogen atoms per molecule
an acid containing four replaceable hydrogen atoms per molecule
(CNOH) an unstable acid occurring mainly in the form of explosive salts and esters that is isomeric with cyanic acid
a crystalline acid used to make azo dyes
(HI) a colorless or yellow aqueous solution of hydrogen iodide
a solution of hydrogen cyanide in water; weak solutions are used in fumigating and in the synthesis of organic compounds
any acid that has hydroxyl groups in addition to the hydroxyl group in the acid itself
any salt or ester of hypochlorous acid
an explosive white crystalline weak acid (H2N2O2)
a crystalline acid often used in medical research; obtained from ergotic alkaloids
a dibasic acid (H2MnO4) found only in solution and in manganate salts
a salt or ester of pyrophosphoric acid
an unsaturated acid (C4H6O2) used to make resins and plastics
a strong acid (H2SeO4) analogous to sulfuric acid
a salt of sulphonic acid
an acid derived from sulphuric acid
a white weak acid that is a hydrated form of titanium dioxide
a white powder used as a pigment for its high covering power and durability
a heterocyclic compound having a metal ion attached by coordinate bonds to at least two nonmetal ions
a compound in which the hydrogen atoms of a hydrocarbon have been replaced by bromine and other halogen atoms; very stable; used in fire extinguishers although it is thought to release bromine that depletes the ozone layer
a synthetic substance that is fluorescent or phosphorescent; used to coat the screens of cathode ray tubes
a white crystalline solid consisting mainly of sodium chloride (NaCl)
a salt or ester of lactic acid
a salt of perchloric acid
a powerful oxidizing agent; forms perchlorates
an oxide containing five atoms of oxygen in the molecule
any of various water-soluble compounds that form by hydrolysis in the digestion of proteins to amino acids
a compound derived from ammonium with hydrogen atoms replaced by organic groups; used as surface-active agents, disinfectants, and in drugs
any of a group of compounds that are inactive precursors of enzymes and require some change (such as the hydrolysis of a fragment that masks an active enzyme) to become active
a crystalline compound used as an antithyroid drug in the treatment of goiter
a toxic colorless flammable liquid organic base with a disagreeable odor; usually derived from coal
any of various metallic-looking sulfides (of which pyrite is the commonest)
a colorless crystalline organic base containing nitrogen; the parent compound of various biologically important substances
any of several bases that are derivatives of purine
any of a class of organic compounds that have two hydrocarbon groups linked by an oxygen atom
any organic compound formed by adding alcohol molecules to aldehyde molecules
an oily colorless liquid obtained by the condensation of two molecules of acetaldehyde; contains an alcohol group (-OH) and an aldehyde group (-CHO)
a mixture of soluble salts found in arid soils and some bodies of water; detrimental to agriculture
natural bases containing nitrogen found in plants
any organic compound containing the group -CONH2
a substance that curdles milk in making cheese and junket
insecticide
an organic acid characterized by one or more carboxyl groups
a derivative of benzoic acid
a pungent gas compounded of nitrogen and hydrogen (NH3)
a white salt used in dry cells
a chromogen formed in the intestine from the breakdown of bilirubin; yields urobilins on oxidation; some is excreted in the feces and some is resorbed and excreted in bile or urine
acid used especially in the production of fertilizers and explosives and rocket fuels
an unstable inorganic acid known only in solution and as nitrite salts
any of several oxides of nitrogen formed by the action of nitric acid on oxidizable materials; present in car exhausts
a yellow fuming corrosive mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acid that dissolves metals (including gold)
a compound that is needed in order to refine opium into heroin
a white cyclic anhydride
a salt of hydrazoic acid
a compound made up of a ring of four carbon atoms and one sulfur atom and one nitrogen atom
a white crystalline acid derived from pyrimidine; used in preparing barbiturate drugs
any salt or ester of benzoic acid
antacid (trade name Prevacid) that suppresses acid secretion in the stomach
a salt or ester of boric acid
any of various acids containing boron and oxygen
a white or colorless slightly acid solid that is soluble in water and ethanol; used in the manufacture of glass and paper and adhesives and in detergents and as a flux in welding; also used as an antiseptic and food preservative
a salt of boric and silicic acids
an unstable acid used as an oxidizing agent
a poisonous oily liquid with a garlicky odor composed of 2 cacodyl groups; undergoes spontaneous combustion in dry air
a grey salt of calcium (CaC) used in making acetylene
a white crystalline salt made by the action of lactic acid on calcium carbonate; used in foods (as a baking powder) and given medically as a source of calcium
a deliquescent salt that is soluble in water; sometimes used as a source of nitrogen in fertilizers
a white crystalline oxide used in the production of calcium hydroxide
an insoluble calcium salt of stearic acid and palmitic acid; it is formed when soap is mixed with water that contains calcium ions and is the scum produced in regions of hard water
a salt (or ester) of carbamic acid
an acid that is known only by virtue of its salts (as ammonium carbamate) or its esters (as urethane)
a binary compound of carbon with a more electropositive element
a nitric acid ester; used in lacquers and explosives
a toxic white soluble crystalline acidic derivative of benzene; used in manufacturing and as a disinfectant and antiseptic; poisonous if taken internally
a colorless nonflammable liquid used as a solvent for fats and oils; because of its toxicity its use as a cleaning fluid or fire extinguisher has declined
a salt or ester of carbonic acid (containing the anion CO3)
a salt or ester of fulminic acid
a weak acid known only in solution; formed when carbon dioxide combines with water
any organic substance that occurs in neural activity
organic compounds that react with water to form an acid
organic compounds containing the group -COX where X is a halogen atom
an unstable acid known only in solution and as chromate salts
any salt or ester of chromic acid
a weak water-soluble acid found in many fruits (especially citrus fruits); used as a flavoring agent
a complex consisting of an organic base in association with hydrogen chloride
an oxide of copper
white crystalline compound that occurs naturally as the mineral gibbsite
a dark oily liquid obtained by distillation of coal tar; used as a preservative for wood
a colorless or yellowish oily liquid obtained by distillation of wood tar; used as an antiseptic
a weak soluble dibasic acid (the parent acid of cyanamide salts)
a colorless poisonous volatile liquid acid that hydrolyzes readily to ammonia and carbon dioxide
an extremely poisonous salt of hydrocyanic acid
any of a class of organic compounds containing the cyano radical -CN
any organic compound in which the cyano radical -CN and the hydroxyl radical -OH are attached to the same carbon atom
a trimer of cyanic acid
(biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associated with the transmission of genetic information
(biochemistry) a long linear polymer of nucleotides found in the nucleus but mainly in the cytoplasm of a cell where it is associated with microsomes; it transmits genetic information from DNA to the cytoplasm and controls certain chemical processes in the cell
an oxide containing two atoms of oxygen in the molecule
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
formed by reaction between an acid and an alcohol with elimination of water
(NaNO3) used especially as a fertilizer and explosive
(KNO3) used especially as a fertilizer and explosive
a white crystalline salt (KBr) used as a sedative and in photography
a white salt (KClO3) used in matches, fireworks, and explosives; also used as a disinfectant and bleaching agent
an orange-red salt used in making dyes and in photography
a red oxide of iron
a brown unstable acid formed from ferricyanide
salt of ferricyanic acid obtained by oxidation of a ferrocyanide
a white unstable acid formed from ferrocyanide salts
salt of ferrocyanic acid usually obtained by a reaction of a cyanide with iron sulphate
a compound (such as ethanol or formaldehyde) that fixes tissues and cells for microscopic study
an acid of fluorine and boron
a salt of fluoroboric acid
salt of fluosilicic acid
an unstable poisonous corrosive acid known primarily in the form of its salts
a colorless pungent fuming vesicatory liquid acid HCOOH found naturally in ants and many plants or made catalytically from carbon monoxide and steam; used in finishing textiles and paper and in the manufacture of insecticides and fumigants
a colorless crystalline acid with a fruity taste; used in making polyester resins
a colorless toxic flammable liquid used in the synthesis of nylon
a colorless crystalline acid obtained from tannin
a salt or ester of glutamic acid
a syrupy acid obtained by oxidation of glycerol or glyceraldehyde
a gelatinous preparation made from gelatin and glycerin and water; used as a base for ointments and suppositories
a heavy yellow poisonous oily explosive liquid obtained by nitrating glycerol; used in making explosives and medically as a vasodilator (trade names Nitrospan and Nitrostat)
a group of compounds derived from monosaccharides
a translucent crystalline compound found in sugar cane and sugar beets and unripe grapes
any of a class of solid or semisolid viscous substances obtained either as exudations from certain plants or prepared by polymerization of simple molecules
a resin having a polymeric structure; especially a resin in the raw state; used chiefly in plastics
a polymer consisting of two or more different monomers
any of various polymers containing the urethane radical; a wide variety of synthetic forms are made and used as adhesives or plastics or paints or rubber
a salt of any halogen acid
one of various compounds of carbon and any of the halogens
an organic compound usually formed as an intermediate product in the preparation of acetals from aldehydes or ketones
any substance that can cause lysis (destruction) of erythrocytes (red blood cells) and the release of their hemoglobin
an organic residue of decaying organic matter
any binary compound formed by the union of hydrogen and other elements
an aqueous solution of hydrogen bromide that is a strong liquid acid
an organic compound containing only carbon and hydrogen
an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride; a strongly corrosive acid
a colorless corrosive gas (HCl)
a weak poisonous liquid acid; formed by solution of hydrogen fluoride in water
an acid formed by aqueous solution of hydrogen iodide
a sulfide having the unpleasant smell of rotten eggs
a compound used as a fixing agent in photographic developing
a weak unstable acid known only in solution and in its salts; used as a bleaching agent and as an oxidizing agent
an organic base C3H4N2; a histamine inhibitor
a chemical substance that repels insects
a soluble crystalline acid; used as a reagent and disinfectant
a compound containing two atoms of sulfur combined with iron
a salt or ester of isocyanic acid
an acid known only in the form of its esters
a crystalline carboxylic acid; occurs in some fermentations of sugars
a slender stick of incense burned before a joss by the Chinese
any of a class of organic compounds having a carbonyl group linked to a carbon atom in each of two hydrocarbon radicals
a complex polymer; the chief constituent of wood other than carbohydrates; binds to cellulose fibers to harden and strengthen cell walls of plants
a caustic substance produced by heating limestone
a deliquescent salt; used in de-icing and as a drying agent
a white salt (CaSO4)
a strong solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide
any very large complex molecule; found only in plants and animals
a white crystalline powder used chiefly in medicines
a nitride containing nitrogen and magnesium
a colorless crystalline compound found in unripe fruit (such as apples or tomatoes or cherries) and used mainly to make polyester resins
a salt of manganic acid containing manganese as its anion
a white crystalline organic base; used mainly in making melamine resins
a tasteless colorless powder used medicinally as a cathartic
a hydrate that contains one molecule of water per molecule of the compound
an oxide containing just one atom of oxygen in the molecule
a violet-colored salt used in hide tanning and as a mordant in dyeing
a salt or ester of tartaric acid
a medicinal liquid preparation intended for use in an atomizer
a poisonous oily water-soluble liquid used as a solvent and in the manufacture of aniline
a polymer containing repeated amide groups
a salt or ester of oxalacetic acid
an acid formed by oxidation of maleic acid (as in metabolism of fats and carbohydrates)
a salt or ester of oxalic acid
a toxic colorless crystalline organic acid found in oxalis and other plants; used as a bleach and rust remover and in chemical analysis
any compound containing the group -C=NOH
any acid that contains oxygen
a vitamin of the vitamin B complex that performs an important role in the oxidation of fats and carbohydrates and certain amino acids; occurs in many foods
a metabolic acid found in yeast and liver cells; used to make dyes and drugs and sun blockers
a complex acid that occurs in ripe fruit and some vegetables
a dark purple salt of permanganic acid; in water solution it is used as a disinfectant and antiseptic
an unstable purple acid (HMnO4) known only in solution or of permanganate salts
an inorganic compound containing the divalent ion -O-O-
any compound obtained from petroleum or natural gas
a salt of phosphoric acid
an organic compound of creatine and phosphoric acid; found in the muscles of vertebrates where its hydrolysis releases energy for muscular contraction
a colorless acid used to make dyes and perfumes
a yellow toxic highly explosive strong acid; used in high explosives and as a dye and in chemical reactions
any of a class of weakly acidic organic compounds; molecule contains one or more hydroxyl groups
a salt or ester of polyphosphoric acid
a preparation used in polishing
a potassium compound often used in agriculture and industry
a salt or ester of propenoic acid
a heterocyclic organic compound with a penetrating odor
any of several basic compounds derived from pyrimidine
a colorless acid formed as an important intermediate in metabolism or fermentation
a bitter compound used as an insecticide and tonic and vermifuge; extracted from the wood and bark of trees of the genera Quassia and Picrasma
a reddish oxide of lead (Pb3O4) used as a pigment in paints and in glass and ceramics
any of various synthetic elastic materials whose properties resemble natural rubber
a salt of salicylic acid (included in several commonly used drugs)
a solution of two simple salts that forms a single substance on crystallization
a salt of bile acid and a base; functions as an emulsifier of lipids and fatty acids
(Na2SO4.10H2O) a colorless salt used as a cathartic
a salt used especially in baking powder
a colorless salt (NaClO3) used as a weed killer and an antiseptic
the hypothetical acid (H2Cr2O7) from which dichromates are derived; known only in solution and in the form of dichromate salts
a salt of the hypothetical dichromic acid
a red-orange salt used as a mordant
used as an explosive and fertilizer and rocket propellant
a nitrate used in making photographic emulsions; also used in medicine as a cautery and as a topical antibacterial agent
a strongly alkaline caustic used in manufacturing soap and paper and aluminum and various sodium compounds
a white salt present in urine and used to test for metal oxides
any compound containing three chlorine atoms in each molecule
a compound containing two chlorine atoms per molecule
a chloride containing an unusually high proportion of chlorine
a chloride used as a wood preservative or catalyst
a nonflammable liquid used as a solvent and paint remover and refrigerant
a chloride used as an antidote for nerve gases such as sarin or VX
a chloride used chiefly in the manufacture of photographic emulsions
a colorless caustic liquid made by treating tin with chlorine
a commercial preparation of starch that is used to stiffen textile fabrics in laundering
a reddish-brown chloride of heme; produced from hemoglobin in laboratory tests for the presence of blood
a jellylike substance (hydrated silica)
a salt or ester derived from silicic acid
any of a large class of siloxanes that are unusually stable over a wide range of temperatures; used in lubricants and adhesives and coatings and synthetic rubber and electrical insulation
a white or colorless vitreous insoluble solid (SiO2); various forms occur widely in the earth’s crust as quartz or cristobalite or tridymite or lechatelierite
a pungent preparation of ammonium carbonate and perfume; sniffed as a stimulant to relieve faintness
a sodium salt of carbonic acid; used in making soap powders and glass and paper
a gummy substance that is a sodium salt of carboxymethyl cellulose; used as a thickening or emulsifying agent
a colorless crystalline salt of sodium (NaF) used in fluoridation of water and to prevent tooth decay
aromatic substances of vegetable origin used as a preservative
any of several fat-soluble organic compounds having as a basis 17 carbon atoms in four rings; many have important physiological effects
an organic compound that does no contain a steroid
a crystalline acid made from aniline and used as a dye
a salt or ester of sulphuric acid
any of several oxides of sulphur
a metallic oxide containing the univalent anion O2-
an oxide containing four atoms of oxygen in the molecule
depresses the function of the thyroid gland
a salt of thiocyanic acid; formed when alkaline cyanides are fused with sulfur
an unstable acid that can be obtained by distilling a thiocyanate salt
an isomeric acid derived from toluene
a polymer (or a molecule of a polymer) consisting of three identical monomers
an oxide containing three atoms of oxygen in the molecule
an acid that is a partial anhydride of three molecules of phosphoric acid; known chiefly in the form of its salts and esters
a salt of tungstic acid
any of several quinones found in living cells and that function as coenzymes that transfer electrons from one molecule to another in cell respiration
an acid that is a component of perspiration
a yellow salt obtained by the reaction of uranium salts with nitric acid
the chief solid component of mammalian urine; synthesized from ammonia and carbon dioxide and used as fertilizer and in animal feed and in plastics
a white tasteless odorless crystalline product of protein metabolism; found in the blood and urine
a salt of uric acid
a salt or ester of vanadic acid; an anion containing pentavalent vanadium
(H2SO4) a highly corrosive acid made from sulfur dioxide; widely used in the chemical industry
a yellow sulfide used chiefly as a pigment
oxide of zinc; a white powder used as a pigment or in cosmetics or glass or inks and in zinc ointment
a yellow to white crystalline fluorescent compound that occurs naturally as sphalerite or wurtzite and is used as a luminous pigment
a white crystalline oxide; used in refractories and in insulation and abrasives and enamels and glazes
any of a class of organic compounds that contain the divalent radical -CONHCO-
a salt or ester of xanthic acid
any of a class of unstable organic acids containing sulphur
crystalline oxidation product of the metabolism of nucleoproteins; precursor of uric acid; found in many organs and in urine
|
WordReference Random House Learner’s Dictionary of American English © 2023 com•pound1 /adj., v. ˈkɑmpaʊnd, kəmˈpaʊnd; n. ˈkɑmpaʊnd/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
v. [~ + object]
com•pound•a•ble, adj.
com•pound2 /ˈkɑmpaʊnd/USA pronunciation
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2023 com•pound1
n.
v.t.
v.i.
com•pound′a•ble, adj.
com•pound2
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: compound n /ˈkɒmpaʊnd/
vb /kəmˈpaʊnd/(mainly tr)
adj /ˈkɒmpaʊnd/
Etymology: 14th Century: from earlier compounen, from Old French compondre to collect, set in order, from Latin compōnere comˈpoundable adj compound /ˈkɒmpaʊnd/ n
Etymology: 17th Century: by folk etymology (influenced by compound1) from Malay kampong village ‘compound‘ also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations): |
|
Princeton’s WordNetRate this definition:3.9 / 7 votes
-
compoundnoun
a whole formed by a union of two or more elements or parts
-
compound, chemical compoundnoun
(chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight
-
compoundadjective
an enclosure of residences and other building (especially in the Orient)
-
compoundadjective
composed of more than one part
«compound leaves are composed of several lobes; «compound flower heads»
-
compoundadjective
consisting of two or more substances or ingredients or elements or parts
«soap is a compound substance»; «housetop is a compound word»; «a blackberry is a compound fruit»
-
colonial, compoundverb
composed of many distinct individuals united to form a whole or colony
«coral is a colonial organism»
-
intensify, compound, heighten, deepenverb
make more intense, stronger, or more marked
«The efforts were intensified», «Her rudeness intensified his dislike for her»; «Pot smokers claim it heightens their awareness»; «This event only deepened my convictions»
-
compound, combineverb
put or add together
«combine resources»
-
compoundverb
calculate principal and interest
-
compoundverb
create by mixing or combining
-
compound, combineverb
combine so as to form a whole; mix
«compound the ingredients»
Samuel Johnson’s DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes
-
Compoundadjective
Etymology: from the verb.
1. Formed out of many ingredients; not single.
The ancient electrum had in it a fifth of silver to the gold, and made a compound metal, as fit for most uses as gold.
Francis Bacon.Compound substances are made up of two or more simple substances.
Isaac Watts, Logick.2. [In grammar.] Composed of two or more words; not simple.
Those who are his greatest admirers, seem pleased with them as beauties; I speak of his compound epithets.
Alexander Pope.3. Compound or aggregated Flower, in botany,is such as consists of many little flowers, concurring together to make up one whole one; each of which has its style and stamina, and adhering seed, and are all contained within one and the same calyx: such are the sunflower and dandelion. John Harris
-
Compoundnoun
The mass formed by the union of many ingredients.
Etymology: from the verb.
For present use or profit, this is the rule: consider the price of the two simple bodies; consider again the dignity of the one above the other in use; then see if you can make a compound, that will save more in price than it will lose in dignity of the use.
Francis Bacon, Physical Rem.As man is a compound and mixture of flesh, as well as spirit.
Robert South, Sermons.Love, why do we one passion call?
When ’tis a compound of them all;
Where hot and cold, where sharp and sweet,
In all their equipages meet.
Jonathan Swift. -
To COMPOUNDverb
Etymology: compono, Latin.
1. To mingle many ingredients together in one mass.2. To form by uniting various parts.
Whosoever compoundeth any like it, shall be cut off.
Ex. xxx.It will be difficult to evince, that nature does not make decompounded bodies; I mean, mingle together such bodies as are already compounded of elementary, or rather of simple ones.
Robert Boyle, Sceptical Chymist.The ideas, being each but one single perception, are easier got than the more complex ones; and therefore are not liable to the uncertainty, which attends those compounded ones.
John Locke.3. To mingle in different positions; to combine.
We cannot have a single image that did not enter through the sight; but we have the power of altering and compounding those images into all the varieties of picture.
Joseph Addison, Spectator.4. [In grammar.] To form one word from two or more words.
Where it and Tigris embrace each other under the city of Apamia, there do they agree of a joint and compounded name, and are called Piso-Tigris.
Walter Raleigh, History of the World.5. To compose by being united.
Who’d be so mock’d with glory, as to live
But in a dream of friendship?
To have his pomp, and all what state compounds,
But only painted, like his varnish’d friends!
William Shakespeare, Timon.6. To adjust a difference by some recession from the rigour of claims.
I would to God all strifes were well compounded.
William Shakespeare.If there be any discord or suits between any of the family, they are compounded and appeased.
Francis Bacon, New Atlantis.7. To discharge a debt by paying only part.
Shall I, ye gods, he cries, my debts compound?
John Gay. -
To Compoundverb
1. To come to terms of agreement by abating something of the first demand. It has for before the thing accepted or remitted.
They were, at last, glad to compound for his bare commitment to the Tower.
Edward Hyde.Pray but for half the virtues of this wife;
Compound for all the rest, with longer life.
Dryden.2. To bargain in the lump.
Here’s a fellow will help you to-morrow: compound with him by the year.
William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure.3. To come to terms.
Cornwal compounded to furnish ten oxen after Michaelmas for thirty pounds.
Richard Carew, Survey of Cornwal.Once more I come to know of thee, king Harry,
If for thy ransom thou wilt now compound,
Before thy most assured overthrow?
William Shakespeare, Henry V.Made all the royal stars recant,
Compound and take the covenant.
Hudibras, p. ii. cant. 3.But useless all, when he, despairing, found
Catullus then did with the winds compound.
John Dryden, Juvenal.Paracelsus and his admirers have compounded with the Galenists, and brought a mixed use of chymical medicines into the present practice.
William Temple.4. To determine. This is not in use.
We here deliver,
Subscribed by the consuls and patricians,
Together with the seal of the senate, what
We have compounded on.
William Shakespeare, Coriolanus.
Webster DictionaryRate this definition:3.2 / 6 votes
-
Compoundnoun
in the East Indies, an inclosure containing a house, outbuildings, etc
-
Compoundverb
to form or make by combining different elements, ingredients, or parts; as, to compound a medicine
-
Compoundverb
to put together, as elements, ingredients, or parts, in order to form a whole; to combine, mix, or unite
-
Compoundverb
to modify or change by combination with some other thing or part; to mingle with something else
-
Compoundverb
to compose; to constitute
-
Compoundverb
to settle amicably; to adjust by agreement; to compromise; to discharge from obligation upon terms different from those which were stipulated; as, to compound a debt
-
Compoundverb
to effect a composition; to come to terms of agreement; to agree; to settle by a compromise; — usually followed by with before the person participating, and for before the thing compounded or the consideration
-
Compoundverb
composed of two or more elements, ingredients, parts; produced by the union of several ingredients, parts, or things; composite; as, a compound word
-
Compoundnoun
that which is compounded or formed by the union or mixture of elements ingredients, or parts; a combination of simples; a compound word; the result of composition
-
Compoundnoun
a union of two or more ingredients in definite proportions by weight, so combined as to form a distinct substance; as, water is a compound of oxygen and hydrogen
-
Etymology: [OE. compouned, p. p. of compounen. See Compound, v. t.]
FreebaseRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote
-
Compound
In linguistics, a compound is a lexeme that consists of more than one stem. Compounding or composition is the process of word formation that creates compound lexemes. That is, in familiar terms, compounding occurs when two or more words are joined together to make them one word. The meaning of the compound may be very different from the meanings of its components in isolation.
Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote
-
Compound
kom-pownd′, v.t. to mix or combine: to settle or adjust by agreement.—v.i. to agree, or come to terms: to bargain in the lump.—adj. Com′pound, mixed or composed of a number of parts: not simple, dealing with numbers of various denominations of quantity, &c., as in ‘compound addition,’ &c.; or with processes more complex than the simple process, as in ‘compound proportion,’ &c.—n. a mass made up of a number of parts: the usual name in India for the enclosure in which a house stands, with its outhouses, yard, and garden: a compounded drug.—n. Compound′er.—Compound engine, a condensing engine in which the mechanical action of the steam is begun in one cylinder, and ended in a larger cylinder; Compound fracture, a broken bone, communicating with a co-existing skin wound; Compound householder, one who pays his rates in his rent, the landlord being immediately chargeable with them; Compound interest, the charge made where—the interest not being paid when due—it is added to the principal, forming the amount upon which the subsequent year’s interest is computed; Compound quantity (alg.), a quantity consisting of more than one term, as a + b; Compound time (mus.), time in which each bar is made up of two or more simple bars. [O. Fr., from L. componĕre—com, together, ponĕre, to place.]
Dictionary of Nautical TermsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes
-
compound
A term used in India for a lawn garden, or inclosed ground
round a house.
EntomologyRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes
-
Compound
made up of many similar or dissimilar parts.
Matched Categories
-
- Account
- Add
- Assemble
- Mix
- Whole
British National Corpus
-
Nouns Frequency
Rank popularity for the word ‘compound’ in Nouns Frequency: #1829
How to pronounce compound?
How to say compound in sign language?
Numerology
-
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of compound in Chaldean Numerology is: 8
-
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of compound in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2
Examples of compound in a Sentence
-
Paula Gurz:
Members are either forced to compound it themselves to make the product or go to an outside third party source who is compounding the product.
-
Paddy Lowe:
It’s the first time we’ll see the supersoft compound used at this track… and that will likely create a more extreme example of what we saw in Bahrain, where the best qualifying tire is unlikely to be a great race tire, every team is bound to want to qualify on the supersoft, but if it grains( wears) in the race, we could see cars stopping in the first five laps.
-
David Studinski:
Gender nonconforming and transgender individuals face challenges within our own community, say nothing of the vast array of perceptions they experience outside of it. Compound that with the trials and tribulations of childhood and adolescence, and it’s quite obvious why these amazing young people deserve to see 2 million people supporting them along Fifth Avenue, what the world will see in return are smiling young faces, lit up by the ecstatic energy of rainbow-flag-waving spectators. If they’re OK with who they are, the world should be, too.
-
Tesla Inc:
More people are aware of what’s going on and are looking to jump on the gravy train to make a quick buck. It’s very likely that Elon Musk pumping the coin tomorrow on prime-time U.S. TV will only serve to compound things and push the price up.
-
Liz Callin of Milwaukee:
It’s an excellent opportunity to teach your teen about the magic of compound interest.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
Translations for compound
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- مركبArabic
- съедине́ние, споразумявам се, оградено мя́сто, съчета́ние, събирам се, добавям, съединявам, сло́жен, съставен, смесвамBulgarian
- sloučenina, složenýCzech
- sammensatteDanish
- Mischung, chemische Verbindung, VerbindungGerman
- περίβολος, μίγμα, παρασκευάζω, κράμα, συμμιγής, σύνθετος, ενώνομαι, συνθέτω, συγκρότημα, ένωση, μιγνύω, συμβιβάζω, αναμιγνύω, προσθέτω, συμφωνώ, χημική ένωσηGreek
- complejo, compuesto, compuesto químicoSpanish
- kompleksEstonian
- مرکب, آمیختن, همساخته, آمیخته, ترکیبPersian
- laitos, yhdistelmä, yhdistyä, lisätä, seos, liittää, yhdiste, yhdistää, kemiallinen yhdiste, liittyäFinnish
- composé, complexe, composer, composé chimiqueFrench
- covroojidManx
- לשלב, תרכובתHebrew
- यौगिकHindi
- vegyülék, elegy, fogolytábor, keverékHungarian
- senyawaIndonesian
- composto, mettersi d’accordo, comporre, composto chimico, mettere insieme, campo di prigionìa, costituito, unirsi, amalgama, miscuglio, accordarsi, aggiungereItalian
- מתחםHebrew
- 化合物Japanese
- 화합물Korean
- compositumLatin
- pūhuiMāori
- verbinding, samengesteld, complex, samenstellingDutch
- sammensatteNorwegian
- złożonyPolish
- compor, composto, complexo, composto químico, cercadoPortuguese
- compus chimic, compusRomanian
- собира́ться, сме́шивать, компа́унд, сочета́ние, собра́ться, [[огороженный, соедине́ние, добавля́ть, ко́мплекс, сло́жный, составно́й, соединя́ть, объединя́ть, соединениеRussian
- logor, kémījskī spȏj, kompleks, taborSerbo-Croatian
- sestaviti, sestavljen, spojinaSlovene
- sätta, kompromissa, inhägnad, sammansättning, förvärra, blanda, försvåra, förlikning, läger, blandning, göra upp, sammansatt, avtal, gård, förening, förlika, bilägga, överenskommelse, sammansatt ämne, fSwedish
- கலவைTamil
- สารประกอบThai
- karışım, bileşim, bileşikTurkish
- compoundUkrainian
- کمپاؤنڈUrdu
- hợp chất, phức tạpVietnamese
- קאַמפּאַונדYiddish
- 複合Chinese
Get even more translations for compound »
Translation
Find a translation for the compound definition in other languages:
Select another language:
- — Select —
- 简体中文 (Chinese — Simplified)
- 繁體中文 (Chinese — Traditional)
- Español (Spanish)
- Esperanto (Esperanto)
- 日本語 (Japanese)
- Português (Portuguese)
- Deutsch (German)
- العربية (Arabic)
- Français (French)
- Русский (Russian)
- ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
- 한국어 (Korean)
- עברית (Hebrew)
- Gaeilge (Irish)
- Українська (Ukrainian)
- اردو (Urdu)
- Magyar (Hungarian)
- मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
- Indonesia (Indonesian)
- Italiano (Italian)
- தமிழ் (Tamil)
- Türkçe (Turkish)
- తెలుగు (Telugu)
- ภาษาไทย (Thai)
- Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
- Čeština (Czech)
- Polski (Polish)
- Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
- Românește (Romanian)
- Nederlands (Dutch)
- Ελληνικά (Greek)
- Latinum (Latin)
- Svenska (Swedish)
- Dansk (Danish)
- Suomi (Finnish)
- فارسی (Persian)
- ייִדיש (Yiddish)
- հայերեն (Armenian)
- Norsk (Norwegian)
- English (English)
Word of the Day
Would you like us to send you a FREE new word definition delivered to your inbox daily?
Citation
Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:
Are we missing a good definition for compound? Don’t keep it to yourself…
In linguistics, a compound is a lexeme (less precisely, a word) that consists of more than one stem. Compounding or composition is the word formation that creates compound lexemes (the other word-formation process being derivation). Compounding or Word-compounding refers to the faculty and device of language to form new words by combining or putting together old words. In other words, compound, compounding or word-compounding occurs when a person attaches two or more words together to make them one word. The meanings of the words interrelate in such a way that a new meaning comes out which is very different from the meanings of the words in isolation.
Contents
- 1 Formation of compounds
- 2 Subclasses
- 2.1 Semantic classification
- 2.2 Formal classification
- 2.2.1 Noun–noun compounds
- 2.2.2 Verb–noun compounds
- 2.2.3 Verb–verb compounds
- 2.2.4 Compound adpositions
- 3 Examples from different languages
- 3.1 Germanic languages
- 3.2 Russian language
- 3.3 Sanskrit language
- 4 Recent trends
- 5 Compounding by language
- 6 See also
- 7 Notes
- 8 References
- 9 External links
Formation of compounds
Compound formation rules vary widely across language types.
In a synthetic language, the relationship between the elements of a compound may be marked with a case or other morpheme. For example, the German compound Kapitänspatent consists of the lexemes Kapitän (sea captain) and Patent (license) joined by an -s- (originally a genitive case suffix); and similarly, the Latin lexeme paterfamilias contains the archaic genitive form familias of the lexeme familia (family). Conversely, in the Hebrew language compound, the word בֵּית סֵפֶר bet sefer (school), it is the head that is modified: the compound literally means «house-of book», with בַּיִת bayit (house) having entered the construct state to become בֵּית bet (house-of). This latter pattern is common throughout the Semitic languages, though in some it is combined with an explicit genitive case, so that both parts of the compound are marked.
Agglutinative languages tend to create very long words with derivational morphemes. Compounds may or may not require the use of derivational morphemes also. The longest compounds in the world may be found in the Finnish and Germanic languages. In German, extremely extendable compound words can be found in the language of chemical compounds, where in the cases of biochemistry and polymers, they can be practically unlimited in length. German examples include Farbfernsehgerät (color television set), Funkfernbedienung (radio remote control), and the jocular word Donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaftskapitänsmütze (Danube steamboat shipping company Captain’s hat).
In Finnish there is no theoretical limit to the length of compound words, but in practice words consisting of more than three components are rare. Even those can look mysterious to non-Finnish, take hätäuloskäytävä (emergency exit) as an example. Internet folklore sometimes suggests that lentokonesuihkuturbiinimoottoriapumekaanikkoaliupseerioppilas (Airplane jet turbine engine auxiliary mechanic non-commissioned officer student) would be the longest word in Finnish, but evidence of it actually being used is scant and anecdotic at best.
Compounds can be rather long when translating technical documents from English to some other language, for example, Swedish. «Motion estimation search range settings» can be directly translated to rörelseuppskattningssökintervallsinställningar; the length of the words are theoretically unlimited, especially in chemical terminology.
Subclasses
Semantic classification
A common semantic classification of compounds yields four types:
- endocentric
- exocentric (also bahuvrihi)
- copulative (also dvandva)
- appositional
An endocentric compound consists of a head, i.e. the categorical part that contains the basic meaning of the whole compound, and modifiers, which restrict this meaning. For example, the English compound doghouse, where house is the head and dog is the modifier, is understood as a house intended for a dog. Endocentric compounds tend to be of the same part of speech (word class) as their head, as in the case of doghouse. (Such compounds were called tatpuruṣa in the Sanskrit tradition.)
Exocentric compounds (called a bahuvrihi compound in the Sanskrit tradition) are hyponyms of some unexpressed semantic head (e.g. a person, a plant, an animal…), and their meaning often cannot be transparently guessed from its constituent parts. For example, the English compound white-collar is neither a kind of collar nor a white thing. In an exocentric compound, the word class is determined lexically, disregarding the class of the constituents. For example, a must-have is not a verb but a noun. The meaning of this type of compound can be glossed as «(one) whose B is A», where B is the second element of the compound and A the first. A bahuvrihi compound is one whose nature is expressed by neither of the words: thus a white-collar person is neither white nor a collar (the collar’s colour is a metaphor for socioeconomic status). Other English examples include barefoot and Blackbeard.
Copulative compounds are compounds which have two semantic heads.
Appositional compounds refer to lexemes that have two (contrary) attributes which classify the compound.
| Type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| endocentric | A+B denotes a special kind of B | darkroom, smalltalk |
| exocentric | A+B denotes a special kind of an unexpressed semantic head | skinhead, paleface (head: ‘person’) |
| copulative | A+B denotes ‘the sum’ of what A and B denote | bittersweet, sleepwalk |
| appositional | A and B provide different descriptions for the same referent | actor-director, maidservant |
Formal classification
Noun–noun compounds
Most natural languages have compound nouns. The positioning of the words (i. e. the most common order of constituents in phrases where nouns are modified by adjectives, by possessors, by other nouns, etc.) varies according to the language. While Germanic languages, for example, are left-branching when it comes to noun phrases (the modifiers come before the head), the Romance languages are usually right-branching.
In French, compound nouns are often formed by left-hand heads with prepositional components inserted before the modifier, as in chemin-de-fer ‘railway’ lit. ‘road of iron’ and moulin à vent ‘windmill’, lit. ‘mill (that works)-by-means-of wind’.
In Turkish, one way of forming compound nouns is as follows: yeldeğirmeni ‘windmill’ (yel: wind, değirmen-i:mill-possessive); demiryolu ‘railway'(demir: iron, yol-u: road-possessive).
Verb–noun compounds
A type of compound that is fairly common in the Indo-European languages is formed of a verb and its object, and in effect transforms a simple verbal clause into a noun.
In Spanish, for example, such compounds consist of a verb conjugated for third person singular, present tense, indicative mood followed by a noun (usually plural): e.g., rascacielos (modelled on «skyscraper», lit. ‘scratches skies’), sacacorchos (‘corkscrew’, lit. ‘removes corks’), guardarropas (‘wardrobe’, lit. ‘stores clothing’). These compounds are formally invariable in the plural (but in many cases they have been reanalyzed as plural forms, and a singular form has appeared). French and Italian have these same compounds with the noun in the singular form: Italian grattacielo, ‘skyscraper’; French grille-pain, ‘toaster’ (lit. ‘toasts bread’) and torche-cul ‘ass-wipe’ (Rabelais: See his «propos torcheculatifs»).
This construction exists in English, generally with the verb and noun both in uninflected form: examples are spoilsport, killjoy, breakfast, cutthroat, pickpocket, dreadnought, and know-nothing.
Also common in English is another type of verb–noun (or noun–verb) compound, in which an argument of the verb is incorporated into the verb, which is then usually turned into a gerund, such as breastfeeding, finger-pointing, etc. The noun is often an instrumental complement. From these gerunds new verbs can be made: (a mother) breastfeeds (a child) and from them new compounds mother-child breastfeeding, etc.
In the Australian Aboriginal language Jingulu, (a Pama–Nyungan language), it is claimed that all verbs are V+N compounds, such as «do a sleep», or «run a dive», and the language has only three basic verbs: do, make, and run.[citation needed]
A special kind of composition is incorporation, of which noun incorporation into a verbal root (as in English backstabbing, breastfeed, etc.) is most prevalent (see below).
Verb–verb compounds
Main article: Compound verb
Verb–verb compounds are sequences of more than one verb acting together to determine clause structure. They have two types:
- In a serial verb, two actions, often sequential, are expressed in a single clause. For example, Ewe trɔ dzo, lit. «turn leave», means «turn and leave», and Hindi जाकर देखो jā-kar dekh-o, lit. «go-CONJUNCTIVE PARTICIPLE see-IMPERATIVE«, means «go and see». In each case, the two verbs together determine the semantics and argument structure.
Serial verb expressions in English may include What did you go and do that for?, or He just upped and left; this is however not quite a true compound since they are connected by a conjunction and the second missing arguments may be taken as a case of ellipsis.
- In a compound verb (or complex predicate), one of the verbs is the primary, and determines the primary semantics and also the argument structure. The secondary verb, often called a vector verb or explicator, provides fine distinctions, usually in temporality or aspect, and also carries the inflection (tense and/or agreement markers). The main verb usually appears in conjunctive participial (sometimes zero) form. For examples, Hindi निकल गया nikal gayā, lit. «exit went», means ‘went out’, while निकल पड़ा nikal paRā, lit. «exit fell», means ‘departed’ or ‘was blurted out’. In these examples निकल nikal is the primary verb, and गया gayā and पड़ा paRā are the vector verbs. Similarly, in both English start reading and Japanese 読み始める yomihajimeru «start-CONJUNCTIVE-read» «start reading,» the vector verbs start and 始める hajimeru «start» change according to tense, negation, and the like, while the main verbs reading and 読み yomi «reading» usually remain the same. An exception to this is the passive voice, in which both English and Japanese modify the main verb, i.e. start to be read and 読まれ始める yomarehajimeru lit. «read-PASSIVE-(CONJUNCTIVE)-start» start to be read. With a few exceptions all compound verbs alternate with their simple counterparts. That is, removing the vector does not affect grammaticality at all nor the meaning very much: निकला nikalā ‘(He) went out.’ In a few languages both components of the compound verb can be finite forms: Kurukh kecc-ar ker-ar lit. «died-3pl went-3pl» ‘(They) died.’
- Compound verbs are very common in some languages, such as the northern Indo-Aryan languages Hindi-Urdu and Panjabi where as many as 20% of verb forms in running text are compound. They exist but are less common in Dravidian languages and in other Indo-Aryan languages like Marathi and Nepali, in Tibeto-Burman languages like Limbu and Newari, in potentially Altaic languages like Turkish, Korean, Japanese, Kazakh, Uzbek, and Kyrgyz, and in northeast Caucasian languages like Tsez and Avar.
- Under the influence of a Quichua substrate speakers living in the Ecuadorian altiplano have innovated compound verbs in Spanish:
- De rabia puso rompiendo la olla, ‘In anger (he/she) smashed the pot.’ (Lit. from anger put breaking the pot)
- Botaremos matándote ‘We will kill you.’ (Cf. Quichua huañuchi-shpa shitashun, lit. kill-CP throw.1plFut, तेरे को मार डालेंगे )
- Compound verb equivalents in English (examples from the internet):
- What did you go and do that for?
- If you are not giving away free information on your web site then a huge proportion of your business is just upping and leaving.
- Big Pig, she took and built herself a house out of brush.
- Caution: In descriptions of Persian and other Iranian languages the term ‘compound verb’ refers to noun-plus-verb compounds, not to the verb–verb compounds discussed here.
Compound adpositions
Compound prepositions formed by prepositions and nouns are common in English and the Romance languages (consider English on top of, Spanish encima de, etc.). Japanese shows the same pattern, except the word order is the opposite (with postpositions): no naka (lit. «of inside», i.e. «on the inside of»). Hindi has a small number of simple (i.e., one-word) postpositions and a large number of compound postpositions, mostly consisting of simple postposition ke followed by a specific postposition (e.g., ke pas, «near»; ke nīche, «underneath»).
Examples from different languages
Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwe:
- mashkikiwaaboo ‘tonic’: mashkiki ‘medicine’ + waaboo ‘liquid’
- miskomin ‘raspberry’: misko ‘red’ + miin ‘berry’
- dibik-giizis ‘moon’: dibik ‘night’ + giizis ‘sun’
- gichi-mookomaan ‘white person/American’: gichi ‘big’ + mookomaan ‘knife’
Chinese (Cantonese Jyutping):
- 學生 ‘student’: 學 hok6 learn + 生 sang1 grow
- 太空 ‘universe’: 太 taai3 great + 空 hung1 emptiness
- 摩天樓 ‘skyscraper’: 摩 mo1 touch + 天 tin1 sky + 樓 lau2 building (with more than 1 storey)
- 打印機 ‘printer’: 打 daa2 strike + 印 yan3 stamp/print + 機 gei1 machine
- 百科全書 ‘encyclopaedia’: 百 baak3 100 + 科 fo1 (branch of) study + 全 cyun4 entire/complete + 書 syu1 book
Dutch:
- Arbeidsongeschiktheidsverzekering ‘disability insurance’: arbeid ‘labour’, + ongeschiktheid ‘inaptitude’, + verzekering ‘insurance’.
- Rioolwaterzuiveringsinstallatie ‘wastewater treatment plant’: riool ‘sewer’, + water ‘water’, + zuivering ‘cleaning’, + installatie ‘installation’.
- Verjaardagskalender ‘birthday calendar’: verjaardag ‘birthday’, + kalender ‘calendar’.
- Klantenservicemedewerker ‘customer service representative’: klanten ‘customers’, + service ‘service’, + medewerker ‘worker’.
- Universiteitsbibliotheek ‘university library’: universiteit ‘university’, + bibliotheek ‘library’.
- Doorgroeimogelijkheden ‘possibilities for advancement’: door ‘through’, + groei ‘grow’, + mogelijkheden ‘possibilities’.
Finnish:
- sanakirja ‘dictionary’: sana ‘word’, + kirja ‘book’
- tietokone ‘computer’: tieto ‘knowledge, data’, + kone ‘machine’
- keskiviikko ‘Wednesday’: keski ‘middle’, + viikko ‘week’
- maailma ‘world’: maa ‘land’, + ilma ‘air’
- rautatieasema ‘railway station’: rauta ‘iron’ + tie ‘road’ + asema ‘station’
- suihkuturbiiniapumekaanikkoaliupseerioppilas: ‘Jet engine assistant mechanic NCO student’
- atomiydinenergiareaktorigeneraattorilauhduttajaturbiiniratasvaihde: some part of a nuclear plant
The German language has many compounds
German:
- Wolkenkratzer ‘skyscraper’: wolken ‘clouds’, + kratzer ‘scraper’
- Eisenbahn ‘railway’: Eisen ‘iron’, + bahn ‘track’
- Kraftfahrzeug ‘automobile’: Kraft ‘power’, + fahren/fahr ‘drive’, + zeug ‘machinery’
- Stacheldraht ‘barbed wire’: stachel ‘barb/barbed’, + draht ‘wire’
- Rinderkennzeichnungs- und Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz: literally, Cattle marking and beef labeling supervision duties delegation law
Icelandic:
- járnbraut ‘railway’: járn ‘iron’, + braut ‘path’ or ‘way’
- farartæki ‘vehicle’: farar ‘journey’, + tæki ‘apparatus’
- alfræðiorðabók ‘encyclopædia’: al ‘everything’, + fræði ‘study’ or ‘knowledge’, + orða ‘words’, + bók ‘book’
- símtal ‘telephone conversation’: sím ‘telephone’, + tal ‘dialogue’
Italian:
- Millepiedi ‘centipede’: mille ‘thousand’, + piedi ‘feet’
- Ferrovia ‘railway’: ferro ‘iron’, + via ‘way’
- Tergicristallo ‘windscreen wiper’: tergere ‘to wash’, + cristallo ‘crystal, (pane of) glass’
Japanese:
- 目覚まし（時計） mezamashi(dokei) ‘alarm clock’: 目 me ‘eye’ + 覚まし samashi (-zamashi) ‘awakening (someone)’ (+ 時計 tokei (-dokei) clock)
- お好み焼き okonomiyaki: お好み okonomi ‘preference’ + 焼き yaki ‘cooking’
- 日帰り higaeri ‘day trip’: 日 hi ‘day’ + 帰り kaeri (-gaeri) ‘returning (home)’
- 国会議事堂 kokkaigijidō ‘national diet building’: 国会 kokkai ‘national diet’ + 議事 giji ‘proceedings’ + 堂 dō ‘hall’
Korean:
- 안팎 anpak ‘inside and outside’: 안 an ‘inside’ + 밖 bak ‘outside’ (As two nouns compound, the consonant sound ‘b’ fortifies into ‘p,’ becoming 안팎 anpak rather than 안밖 anbak)
Spanish:
- Ciencia-ficción ‘science fiction’: ciencia, ‘science’, + ficción, ‘fiction’ (This word is a calque from the English expression science fiction. In English, the head of a compound word is the last morpheme: science fiction. Conversely, the Spanish head is located at the front, so ciencia ficción sounds like a kind of fictional science rather than scientific fiction.)
- Ciempiés ‘centipede’: cien ‘hundred’, + pies ‘feet’
- Ferrocarril ‘railway’: ferro ‘iron’, + carril ‘lane’
- Paraguas ‘umbrella’: para ‘to stop, stops’ + aguas ‘(the) water’
- Cabizbajo ‘keeping the head low, in a bad mood’
- Subibaja ‘seesaw’
Germanic languages
In Germanic languages, compound words are formed by prepending a descriptive word in front of the main word. For example, «starfish» is a specific «fish» with a «star» shape. Likewise, the noun phrase «star shape» means a «star»like «shape» (whatever a star is). Whereas «starfish» has an explicit definition, this is not required, as compounds like «star shape» and «starlike» can be composed when needed and understood by their implicit meaning. The compound word is understood as a word in itself. Therefore, it may in turn be used in new compound words, so forming an arbitrarily long word is trivial. This contrasts to Romance languages, where prepositions are more used to specify word relationships instead of concatenating the words.
As a member of the Germanic family of languages, English is special in that compound words are usually written in their separate parts. Although English does not form compound nouns to the extent of Dutch or German, noun phrases like «Girl Scout troop», «city council member», and «cellar door» are arguably compound nouns and used as such in speech. Writing them as separate words is merely an orthographic convention, possibly a result of influence from French.
Russian language
In the Russian language compounding is a common type of word formation, and several types of compounds exist, both in terms of compounded parts of speech and of the way of the formation of a compound.[1]
Compound nouns may be agglutinative compounds, hyphenated compounds (стол-книга ‘folding table’ lit. ‘table-book’, i.e., «book-like table»), or abbreviated compounds (portmanteaux: колхоз ‘kolkhoz’). Some compounds look like portmanteaux, while in fact they are an agglutinations of type stem + word: Академгородок ‘Akademgorodok’ (from akademichesky gorodok ‘academic village’). In agglutinative compound nouns, an agglutinating infix is typically used: пароход ‘steamship’: пар + о + ход. Compound nouns may be created as noun+noun, adjective + noun, noun + adjective (rare), noun + verb (or, rather, noun + verbal noun).
Compound adjectives may be formed either per se, e.g., бело-розовый ‘white-pink’, or as a result of compounding during the derivation of an adjective from a multiword term: Каменноостровский проспект ([kəmʲɪnnʌʌˈstrovskʲɪj prʌˈspʲɛkt]) ‘Stone Island Avenue’, a street in St.Petersburg.
Reduplication in Russian language is also a source of compounds.
Quite a few Russian words are borrowed from other languages in an already compounded form, including numerous «classical compounds» or internationalisms: автомобиль ‘automobile’.
Sanskrit language
Sanskrit is very rich in compound formation with seven major compound types and as many as 55 sub-types.[2] The compound formation process is an open-set, and it is not possible to list all Sanskrit compounds in a dictionary. Compounds of two or three words are more frequent, but longer compounds with some running through pages are not rare in Sanskrit literature.[2] Some examples are below (hyphens below show individual word boundaries for ease of reading but are not required in original Sanskrit).
- हिमालय (IAST Himālaya, decomposed as hima-ālaya): Name of the Himalaya mountain range. Literally the abode of snow.[3] A compound of two words and four syllables.
- प्रवर-मुकुट-मणि-मरीचि-मञ्जरी-चय-चर्चित-चरण-युगल (IAST pravara-mukuṭa-maṇi-marīci-mañjarī-caya-carcita-caraṇa-yugala): Literally, O the one whose dual feet are covered by the cluster of brilliant rays from the gems of the best crowns, from the Sanskrit work Panchatantra.[2] A compound of nine words and 25 syllables.
- कमला-कुच-कुङ्कुम-पिञ्जरीकृत-वक्षः-स्थल-विराजित-महा-कौस्तुभ-मणि-मरीचि-माला-निराकृत-त्रि-भुवन-तिमिर (IAST kamalā-kuca-kuṅkuma-piñjarīkṛta-vakṣaḥ-sthala-virājita-mahā-kaustubha-maṇi-marīci-mālā-nirākṛta-tri-bhuvana-timira): Literally O the one who dispels the darkness of three worlds by the shine of Kaustubha jewel hanging on the chest which has been made reddish-yellow by the saffron from the bosom of Kamalā (Lakshmi), an adjective of Rama in the Kakabhushundi Rāmāyaṇa.[4] A compound of 16 words and 44 syllables.
- साङ्ख्य-योग-न्याय-वैशेषिक-पूर्व-मीमांसा-वेदान्त-नारद-शाण्डिल्य-भक्ति-सूत्र-गीता-वाल्मीकीय-रामायण-भागवतादि-सिद्धान्त-बोध-पुरः-सर-समधिकृताशेष-तुलसी-दास-साहित्य-सौहित्य-स्वाध्याय-प्रवचन-व्याख्यान-परम-प्रवीणाः (IAST sāṅkhya-yoga-nyāya-vaiśeṣika-pūrva-mīmāṃsā-vedānta-nārada-śāṇḍilya-bhakti-sūtra-gītā-vālmīkīya-rāmāyaṇa-bhāgavatādi-siddhānta-bodha-puraḥ-sara-samadhikṛtāśeṣa-tulasī-dāsa-sāhitya-sauhitya-svādhyāya-pravacana-vyākhyāna-parama-pravīṇāḥ): Literally the acclaimed forerunner in understanding of the canons of Sāṅkhya, Yoga, Nyāya, Vaiśeṣika, Pūrva Mīmāṃsā, Vedānta, Nārada Bhakti Sūtra, Śāṇḍilya Bhakti Sūtra, Bhagavad Gītā, the Ramayana of Vālmīki, Śrīmadbhāgavata; and the most skilled in comprehensive self-study, discoursing and expounding of the complete works of Gosvāmī Tulasīdāsa.[5] An adjective used in a panegyric of Jagadguru Rambhadracharya. The hyphens show only those word boundaries where there is no Sandhi. On including word boundaries with Sandhis (vedānta=veda-anta, rāmāyaṇa=rāma-ayana, bhāgavatādi=bhāgavata-ādi, siddhānta=siddha-anta, samadhikṛtāśeṣa=samadhikṛta-aśeṣa, svādhyāya=sva-adhyāya), this is a compound of 35 words and 86 syllables.
Recent trends
Although there is no universally agreed-upon guideline regarding the use of compound words in the English language, in recent decades written English has displayed a noticeable trend towards increased use of compounds. Recently, many words have been made by taking syllables of words and compounding them, such as pixel (picture element) and bit (binary digit). This is called a syllabic abbreviation.
There is a trend in Scandinavian languages towards splitting compound words, known in Norwegian as «særskrivingsfeil» (separate writing error). Because the Norwegian language relies heavily on the distinction between the compound word and the sequence of the separate words it consists of, this has dangerous implications. For example «røykfritt» (smokefree, meaning no smoking) has been seen confused with «røyk fritt» (smoke freely).
The German spelling reform of 1996 introduced the option of hyphenating compound nouns when it enhances comprehensibility and readability. This is done mostly with very long compound words by separating them into two or more smaller compounds, like Eisenbahn-Unterführung (railway underpass) or Kraftfahrzeugs-Betriebsanleitung (car manual). Such practice is also permitted in Norwegian (Bokmål and Nynorsk), and encouraged between parts of the word that have very different pronunciation, such as when one part is a loan word or an acronym.
Compounding by language
- Classical compounds
- English compounds
- Sanskrit compounds
See also
- Bracketing paradox
- Incorporation (linguistics)
- Multiword expression
- Neologism
- Noun adjunct
- Portmanteau compounds
- Status constructus
- Word formation
- Syllabic abbreviation
- Tweebuffelsmeteenskootmorsdoodgeskietfontein
Notes
- ^ Student Dictionary of Compound Words of the Russian Language(1978) ISBN 0-8285-5190-1
- ^ a b c Kumar, Anil; Mittal, Vipul; Kulkarni, Amba (2010). «Sanskrit Compound Processor». In Jha, Girish Nath (ed.). Sanskrit Computational Linguistics: 4th International Symposium, New Delhi, India, December 10–12, 2010: Proceedings (Volume 6465 of Lecture Notes in Computer Science / Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence Series). Springer. pp. 57–69. ISBN 3642175279, 9783642175275.
- ^ Harper, Douglas. «Himalaya». Online Etymology Dictionary. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Himalaya. Retrieved 2011-07-17.
- ^ Kumar, Animesh (May 23, 2007). «Sruti Krta Rama Stuti». Stutimandal.com. http://www.stutimandal.com/new/poemgen.php?id=209. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
- ^ «Rambhadracharya — Virudavali: Virudavali of Guruji». Shri Tulsi Peeth Seva Nyas. http://jagadgururambhadracharya.org/virudavali. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
References
- Kortmann, Bernd: English Linguistics: Essentials, Cornelsen, Berlin 2005.
- Plag, Ingo: Word-formation in English, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2003.
External links
- Compound Words: When to Hyphenate
Compound Definition in Chemistry
Table salt or Sodium Chloride (NaCl) is a common compound.
Michelle Arnold / EyeEm / Getty Images
The word «compound» has several definitions. In the field of chemistry, «compound» refers to a «chemical compound.»
Compound Definition
A compound is a chemical species that is formed when two or more atoms join together chemically, with covalent or ionic bonds.
Compounds may be categorized according to the type of chemical bonds holding the atoms together:
- Molecules are held together by covalent bonds.
- Ionic compounds are held together by ionic bonds.
- Intermetallic compounds are held together by metallic bonds.
- Complexes are often held together by coordinate covalent bonds.
Note that some compounds contain a mixture of ionic and covalent bonds. Also note, a few scientists do not consider pure elemental metals to be compounds (metallic bonds).
Examples of Compounds
Examples of compounds include table salt or sodium chloride (NaCl, an ionic compound), sucrose (a molecule), nitrogen gas (N2, a covalent molecule), a sample of copper (intermetallic), and water (H2O, a covalent molecule). Examples of chemical species not considered compounds include the hydrogen ion H+ and the noble gas elements (e.g., argon, neon, helium), which do not readily form chemical bonds.
Writing Compound Formulas
By convention, when atoms form a compound, its formula lists the atom(s) acting as a cation first, followed by the atom(s) acting as the anion. This means sometimes an atom may be first or last in a formula. For example, in carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon (C) acts as a cation. In silicon carbide (SiC), carbon acts as the anion.
Compound Versus Molecule
Sometimes a compound is called a molecule. Usually, the two terms are synonymous. Some scientists make a distinction between the types of bonds in molecules (covalent) and compounds (ionic).