English Explanatory Dictionary

compass

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A magnetic or electronic device used to determine the cardinal directions (usually magnetic or true north).
  2. A pair of compasses (a device used to draw circular arcs and transfer length measurements).
  3. The range of notes of a musical instrument or voice.
  4. A space within limits; an area.
  5. An enclosing limit; a boundary, a circumference.
  6. Moderate bounds, limits of truth; moderation; due limits; used with within.
  7. Synonym of scope.
  8. Range, reach.
  9. A passing round; circuit; circuitous course.
  10. A curved circular form.
verb
  1. To surround; to encircle; to environ; to stretch round.
  2. To go about or round entirely; to traverse.
  3. To accomplish; to reach; to achieve; to obtain.
  4. To plot; to scheme (against someone).
adv
  1. In a circuit; round about.

Pronunciation

kŭmʹpəs /ˈkʌmpəs/ En-us-compass.ogg /ˈkɐmpəs/ /ˈkəmpəs/ kŏmʹpəs /ˈkɔmpəs/ /ˈkɑmpəs/

Word forms

compass compasses compassing compassed more compass most compass

Etymology

From Middle English compas (“a circle, circuit, limit, form, a mathematical instrument”), from Old French compas, from Medieval Latin compassus (“a circle, a circuit”), from Latin com- (“together”) + passus (“a pace, step, later a pass, way, route”); see pass, pace.

Synonyms

pair of compasses magnetic compass scope encircle environ surround cover traverse accomplish achieve attain gain get to reach conspire plot scheme

Derived words

all points of the compass astrocompass beam compass biocompass bow compass box the compass Brunton compass cabin compass Chinese compass color compass compass cactus compass card compass deflection compass dial compass error compass jellyfish compassless compass needle compass out compass plane compass plant compass point compass rose compass saw compass swing compass termite compass timber compass wallah compass window every point of the compass fetch a compass gyrocompass gyro compass gyromagnetic compass gyroscope compass gyroscopic compass hanging compass magnetic compass mariner's compass moral compass pair of compasses prismatic compass qibla compass radio compass scribing compass Square and Compass telltale compass tell-tale compass variation compass accompass compassable encompass incompass outcompass
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