I. com ‧ pact 1 /kəmˈpækt, ˈkɒmpækt $ kəmˈpækt/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: compactus , past participle of compingere 'to put together' , from com- ( ⇨ COM- ) + pangere 'to fasten' ]
1 . small, but arranged so that everything fits neatly into the space available – used to show approval:
The compact design of the machine allows it to be stored easily.
The students’ rooms were compact, with a desk, bed, and closet built in.
2 . packed or put together firmly and closely:
The bushes grew in a compact mass.
3 . small, but solid and strong:
a short compact-looking man
—compactly adverb
—compactness noun [uncountable]
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ small not large in size, amount, or effect:
a small boat
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small businesses
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a small amount of money
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small changes
▪ little [usually before noun] small – used about objects, places, and living things. Used especially with other adjectives to show how you feel about someone or something:
It’s a very pretty little town.
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The poor little dog has hurt its leg.
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The cake was decorated with little flowers.
▪ low used about prices, rents, levels, or standards:
People on low incomes are finding it difficult to pay fuel bills.
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The crime rate in the area is relatively low.
▪ slight [usually before noun] small and not very important or not very noticeable:
a slight problem
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There’s been a slight improvement in his health.
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a slight increase in sales
▪ minor small and not important or not serious:
minor injuries
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We’ve made some minor changes to the program.
▪ compact small – used about places, buildings etc in which space is used effectively, or about phones, cameras, cars etc which are designed to be much smaller than usual:
The apartments are very compact.
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a compact camera
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It is a pleasant and compact city.
▪ poky especially British English used about a room, house etc that is too small:
a poky bedroom
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a poky flat
▪ cramped used about a space, room, or vehicle that is too small because people do not have enough room to move around:
They all lived together in a cramped apartment.
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The car feels cramped with four adults in it.
II. com ‧ pact 2 /ˈkɒmpækt $ ˈkɑːm-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Sense 1-3: Date: 1900-2000 ; Origin: ⇨ ↑ compact 1 ]
[ Sense 4: Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: compactum , from compacisci 'to make an agreement' , from com- ( ⇨ COM- ) + pacisci 'to contract' ]
1 . a small flat container with a mirror, containing powder for a woman’s face
2 . a ↑ compact camera
3 . American English a small car
4 . formal an agreement between countries or people:
A compact was negotiated between the company and the union.
III. com ‧ pact 3 /kəmˈpækt/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
to press something together so that it becomes smaller or more solid:
compacted earth