COMPASS


Meaning of COMPASS in English

I. ˈkəmpəs also ˈkäm- verb

( -ed/-ing/-es )

Etymology: Middle English compassen, from Old French compasser to measure, arrange, ponder, contrive, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin compassare to measure off by paces, from Latin com- + (assumed) Vulgar Latin passare to go, move, from Latin passus step, pace — more at pace

transitive verb

1. : to devise or contrive often in a treacherous manner : plot

2.

a. : to lie around : girdle , encompass

island compassed by the sea

the Great Peace beyond all this turmoil and fret compassed me around — L.P.Smith

b. : to move around : travel entirely around (as a circle or curved course) : encircle

Magellan's ship compassed the earth

3. : to hem in or enclose in or as if in a ring : surround

suddenly enemies compassed him on all sides

4.

a. : to bring about : achieve , accomplish

a writer … attempting a higher strain of elevation … than his powers can compass — C.E.Montague

b. : to get at or within one's power : obtain

compass his freedom

5. obsolete : to bend into a circular form : curve

6. obsolete : to get around (someone) especially for one's own advantage

7. : grasp

compassing an idea

: comprehend

could not compass the smallest problems

intransitive verb

: to assume a circular or curved form : curve , bend

a plank compassing under pressure

Synonyms: see reach , surround

II. noun

( -es )

Etymology: Middle English compas, from Middle French, from compasser to go round, measure, divide

1.

a. : an often rounded or curved boundary limit : circumference

within the compass of the outer wall

b. : an enclosed or delimited space or area often circumscribed

three passengers shut up in the narrow compass of one lumbering old mail coach — Charles Dickens

the narrow compass of 21 pages — V.L.Parrington

c. : range or limit of perception, cognizance, knowledge, interest, concern, or treatment

impossible within the compass of this report to do justice to all the projects — J.B.Conant

disposing of his property … within the compass of the law — John Locke

works … of such compass and excellence as to supersede those of his predecessors — H.O.Taylor

d. : the range of pitch covered by a melody or lying within the capacity of a voice or instrument

e. obsolete : due bounds : limits imposed by moderation and good sense

2. obsolete : cunning ingenuity

3.

a. obsolete : circle

b. obsolete : a ring, globe, or other object with circular outline

c. : a circular motion or course : a roundabout way

finishing the compass of his life

hawks rising in compasses through the air

a compass of seven days' journey — 2 Kings 3:9 (Authorized Version)

d.

(1) : the curve of an arrow's flight

(2) : the angle of elevation determining this curve

4.

a. : a device for determining directions on the earth's surface by means of a magnetic needle or group of needles turning freely on a pivot and pointing to the magnetic north

b. : any of certain nonmagnetic devices that serve the same purpose as the magnetic compass (as the gyrocompass and the sky compass — see gyrocompass , magnetic needle , mariner's compass , sky compass , surveyor's compass

c. usually compasses plural : an instrument for describing circles, transferring measurements, and similar operations consisting in its simple form of two pointed branches joined at the top by a pivot, one of the branches generally having a pen or pencil point — called also pair of compasses

Synonyms: see range

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III. adjective

: forming a curve : curved, circular

a compass timber

IV. adverb

Etymology: compass (III)

obsolete : in an arc : so as to form an arc or circle

V. noun

: a guiding, governing, or motivating purpose

a moral compass

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.