COMPOUND


Meaning of COMPOUND in English

I. käm-ˈpau̇nd, kəm-ˈ, ˈkäm-ˌ 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 -ˈpau̇n-də-bəl, -ˌpau̇n- adjective

• com·pound·er noun

II. ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd, käm-ˈ, kəm-ˈ adjective

Etymology: Middle English compouned, past participle of compounen

Date: 14th century

1. : composed of or resulting from union of separate elements, ingredients, or parts: as

a. : composed of united similar elements especially of a kind usually independent

a compound plant ovary

b. : having the blade divided to the midrib and forming two or more leaflets on a common axis

a compound leaf

2. : involving or used in a combination

3.

a. of a word : constituting a compound

b. of a sentence : having two or more main clauses

III. ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd noun

Date: 1530

1.

a. : a word consisting of components that are words (as rowboat, high school, devil-may-care )

b. : a word (as anthropology, kilocycle, builder ) consisting of any of various combinations of words, combining forms, or affixes

2. : something formed by a union of elements or parts ; especially : a distinct substance formed by chemical union of two or more ingredients in definite proportion by weight

IV. ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd noun

Etymology: by folk etymology from Malay kampung group of buildings, village

Date: 1679

: a fenced or walled-in area containing a group of buildings and especially residences

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.