COMPENSATE


Meaning of COMPENSATE in English

Pronunciation: ' käm-p ə n- ˌ s ā t, - ˌ pen-

Function: verb

Inflected Form: -sat · ed ; -sat · ing

Etymology: Latin compensatus, past participle of compensare, frequentative of compendere

Date: 1646

transitive verb

1 : to be equivalent to : COUNTERBALANCE

2 : to make an appropriate and usually counterbalancing payment to < compensate the victims for their loss>

3 a : to provide with means of counteracting variation b : to neutralize the effect of (variations)

intransitive verb

1 : to supply an equivalent ― used with for

2 : to offset an error, defect, or undesired effect <his enthusiasm compensate s for his lack of skill>

3 : to undergo or engage in psychological or physiological compensation

synonyms see PAY

– com · pen · sa · tive \ ' käm-p ə n- ˌ s ā -tiv, - ˌ pen-; k ə m- ' pen(t)-s ə - \ adjective

– com · pen · sa · tor \ ' käm-p ə n- ˌ s ā -t ə r, - ˌ pen- \ noun

– com · pen · sa · to · ry \ k ə m- ' pen(t)-s ə - ˌ to ̇ r- ē \ adjective

Merriam Webster Collegiate English Dictionary.      Merriam Webster - Энциклопедический словарь английского языка.