Definition of "compound"

compound¹

/ˈkɒmpaʊnd/

noun
plural compounds
1. An enclosure within which workers, prisoners, or soldiers are confined.
2. An enclosure for secure storage.
  Quotations
  A total of 75 cycle spaces are being installed at three Greater Anglia stations - [...]. And a secure compound for bicycles is being built at Cambridge North.
  2020 December 2, “Network News: News in brief: More cycle spaces”, in Rail, page 27
3. A group of buildings situated close together, e.g. for a school or block of offices.
  Quotations
  Shepard: What kind of proof do you have that the major is dangerous?Transmission: Three days ago, we sent two Alliance representatives to meet with him at his compound. They have disappeared. We believe Kyle and his followers killed them.Transmission: That compound is a cult, Shepard. They call him 'Father Kyle' now. He's set himself up as some kind of religious leader.
  2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, PC, scene: Normandy SR-1
  Some 20 supporters managed to get inside the court compounds. About half an hour after the verdict was delivered, they gathered near the Constitutional Court entrance and shouted: "On March 24, use your pen to oust the dictator."
  2019 March 7, Yuda Masayuki, “Thai court: pro-Thaksin party must disband for nominating princess”, in Nikkei Asian Review‎, Nikkei Inc, retrieved 2019-03-07

compound²

/ˈkɒmpaʊnd/

adjective
not comparable
1. Composed of elements; not simple.
  Quotations
  Compound substances are made up of two or more simple substances.
  1725, Isaac Watts, Logick: Or, The Right Use of Reason in the Enquiry after Truth, […], 2nd edition, London: […] John Clark and Richard Hett, […], Emanuel Matthews, […], and Richard Ford, […], published 1726
2. (mathematics) Dealing with numbers of various denominations of quantity, or with processes more complex than the simple process.
3. (music) An octave higher than originally (i.e. a compound major second is equivalent to a major ninth).
noun
plural compounds
1. Anything made by combining several things.
2. (chemistry) A substance formed by chemical bonding of two or more elements in definite proportions by weight.
3. (chemistry, dated) A substance made from any combination of ingredients.
4. (linguistics) A lexeme that consists of more than one stem.
5. (law) A legal procedure whereby a criminal or delinquent avoids prosecution in a court in exchange for his payment to the authorities of a financial penalty or fine.
  Quotations
  Compositionally there is no great distinction between cell wall and cell surface, both are relatively transparent compounds, but both parts of the cell are of high significance in Biology due to their central role in cell functioning.
  2018, Clarence Green, James Lambert, “Position vectors, homologous chromosomes and gamma rays: Promoting disciplinary literacy through Secondary Phrase Lists”, in English for Specific Purposes, page 8
6. (linguistics) A lexeme that consists of more than one stem or an affix, e.g. bookshop, high school or non-standard.
  Quotations
  In the majority of the compounds of non- the hyphen is usually retained; but it is commonly omitted in the case of a few, such as nonconformist, nonentity, nonsense, in which the etymology has been to some extent lost sight of.
  1989, OED2
7. (rail transport) A compound locomotive, a steam locomotive with both high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders.
  Quotations
  From a dead stand, with regulator full open and the lever at about 50 per cent we got up to about 60 m.p.h. by the top of the bank. The big compound was making plenty of noise - but what musical and wonderful noise!
  1961 March, ""Balmore"", “Driving and firing modern French steam locomotives”, in Trains Illustrated, page 148
8. Short for compound exercise.
verb
third-person singular simple present compounds, present participle compounding, simple past and past participle compounded
1. (transitive) To form (a resulting mixture) by combining different elements, ingredients, or parts; to mingle with something else.
  Quotations
  Only compound me with forgotten dust.
  c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene v]
  We have the power of altering […] and compounding those images […] into all the varieties of picture.
  1712 July 2 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “SATURDAY, June 21, 1712”, in The Spectator, number 411; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume V, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853
  incapacitating him from successfully compounding a tale of this sort
  1820, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […]
2. (transitive, law) To settle by agreeing on less than the claim, or on different terms than those stipulated.
3. (transitive) To settle amicably; to adjust by agreement.
  Quotations
  I pray, my lords, let me compound this strife.
  1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene i]
  No! no—if Charles has done nothing false or mean, I shall compound for his extravagance
  1777, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal, II.iii
4. (intransitive) To come to terms of agreement; to settle by a compromise.
  Quotations
  Here's a fellow will help you to-morrow; […] compound with him by the year.
  c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene ii]
  They were at last glad to compound for his bare commitment to the Tower.
  1702–1704, Edward [Hyde, 1st] Earl of Clarendon, “(please specify |book=I to XVI)”, in The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, Begun in the Year 1641. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed at the Theater, published 1707
  [Cornwall] compounded to furnish ten oxen after Michaelmas for thirty pounds.
  1609, Richard Carew, The Survey of Cornwall. […], new edition, London: […] B. Law, […]; Penzance, Cornwall: J. Hewett, published 1769
  Compound for sins they are inclined to / By damning those they have no mind to.
  1662, [Samuel Butler], “[The First Part of Hudibras]”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge: University Press, 1905
5. (transitive, obsolete) To compose; to constitute.
  Quotations
  his pomp and all what state compounds
  c. 1605–1608, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene ii]
6. (intransitive, finance) To increase in value with interest, where the interest is earned on both the principal sum and prior earned interest.
7. (transitive, see usage notes) To worsen a situation.
  Quotations
  […] This latest example of nationalistic self-interest compounded anger across the EU over Trump’s travel ban, imposed last month without consultation or scientific justification.
  2020 April 12, Simon Tisdall, “US's global reputation hits rock-bottom over Trump's coronavirus response”, in The Guardian‎
8. (horse racing, intransitive) Of a horse: to fail to maintain speed.
  Quotations
  At the hill, the Warrior must have been at least ten lengths in front of Wild Dayrell; but he compounded about 200 yards on the T. Y. C. side of the Red House.
  1855, The Sporting Review, volume 34, page 240

Definition of "compound"

compound1

noun

Quotations

Quotations

compound2

adjective

Quotations

noun

Quotations

Quotations

Quotations

verb

Quotations

Quotations

Quotations

Quotations

Quotations

Quotations

compound¹

compound²