COMPOUND


Meaning of COMPOUND in English

n.

Pronunciation: käm- ' pau ̇ nd, k ə m- ' , ' käm- ˌ

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English compounen, from Anglo-French *cumpundre, from Latin componere, from com- + ponere to put ― more at POSITION

Date: 14th century

transitive verb

1 : to put together (parts) so as to form a whole : COMBINE < compound ingredients>

2 : to form by combining parts < compound a medicine>

3 a : to settle amicably : adjust by agreement b : to agree for a consideration not to prosecute (an offense) < compound a felony>

4 a : to pay (interest) on both the accrued interest and the principal b : to add to : AUGMENT <we compound ed our error in later policy ― Robert Lekachman>

intransitive verb

1 : to become joined in a compound

2 : to come to terms of agreement

– com · pound · able \ - ' pau ̇ n-d ə -b ə l, - ˌ pau ̇ n- \ adjective

– com · pound · er noun

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