compound
6 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
compounds
plural
compounds
Britannica Dictionary definition of COMPOUND
[count]
1
:
something that is formed by combining two or more parts
especially
technical
:
a substance created when the atoms of two or more chemical elements join together
-
chemical/organic compounds
-
a compound of sodium and chlorine
-
The metal reacts with the gas to form a compound.
2
:
a word formed by combining two or more words
-
“Rowboat,” “high school,” and “light-year” are compounds.
—
compare 4compound
compounds;
compounded;
compounding
compounds;
compounded;
compounding
Britannica Dictionary definition of COMPOUND
1
[+ object]
:
to make (something, such as an error or problem) worse
:
to add to (something bad)
-
He compounded [=exacerbated] his mistake by announcing it to the whole table.
2
finance
:
to pay interest on both an amount of money and the interest it has already earned
[+ object]
-
The interest is compounded at regular intervals.
[no object]
-
The interest compounds quarterly.
3
[+ object]
:
to form (something) by combining separate things
— usually used as (be) compounded
-
compound a medicine
-
an attitude compounded of [=made up of] equal parts greed and arrogance
Britannica Dictionary definition of COMPOUND
1
:
made up of two or more parts
-
a compound leaf
-
a compound microscope
2
a
:
made by combining two or more words
-
“Steamboat” is a compound noun.
b
:
consisting of two or more main clauses
-
“I told him to leave and he left” is a compound sentence.
plural
compounds
plural
compounds
Britannica Dictionary definition of COMPOUND
[count]
:
an enclosed area that contains a group of buildings
—
compare 1compound
