compound
1 of 4noun (1)
com·pound ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd 
1
: 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
a new antibiotic compound
2
a
: a word consisting of components that are words (such as rowboat, high school, devil-may-care)
b
: a word (such as anthropology, kilocycle, builder) consisting of any of various combinations of words, combining forms, or affixes
compound
2 of 4verb
com·pound käm-ˈpau̇nd
kəm-ˈpau̇nd,
ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd compounded; compounding; compounds
transitive verb
1
a
: to pay (interest) on both the accrued interest and the principal
b
: to add to : augment
compound an error
… had several other medical complications that compounded his condition.
Jeffrey S. Hollis
Jeffrey S. Hollis2
: to form by combining parts
compound a medicine
3
: to put together (parts) so as to form a whole : combine
compound ingredients
… a thick sauce compounded of chilies, garlic, and ginger. Andy Birsh
Andy Birsh4
a
: to settle amicably : adjust by agreement
b
: to agree for a consideration not to prosecute (an offense)
compound a felony
intransitive verb
1
: to become joined in a compound
2
: to come to terms of agreement
compounded with the enemy for peace
compoundable
käm-ˈpau̇n-də-bəl
adjective kəm-ˈpau̇n-
ˈkäm-ˌpau̇n-
compounder noun
compound
3 of 4adjective
com·pound ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd käm-ˈpau̇nd
käm-ˈpau̇nd kəm-ˈpau̇nd
1
: composed of or resulting from union of separate elements, ingredients, or parts: such as
a
: having the blade divided to the midrib and forming two or more leaflets on a common axis
a compound leaf
b
: composed of united similar elements especially of a kind usually independent
a compound plant ovary
2
: involving or used in a combination
3
a
of a word : made by combining two or more words : constituting a compound (see compound entry 1 sense 2)
"Steamboat" is a compound noun.
b
of a sentence : having two or more main clauses
compound
4 of 4noun (2)
com·pound ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd
: a fenced or walled-in area containing a group of buildings and especially residences
a prison compound
an embassy compound
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- admixture
- alloy
- amalgam
- amalgamation
- blend
- cocktail
- combination
- composite
- conflation
- emulsion
- fusion
- intermixture
- meld
- mix
- mixture
- synthesis
Verb
- accelerate
- add (to)
- aggrandize
- amplify
- augment
- boost
- build up
- enlarge
- escalate
- expand
- extend
- hype
- increase
- multiply
- pump up
- raise
- stoke
- supersize
- swell
- up
Adjective
- amalgamated
- composite
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb The interest is compounded at regular intervals. we compounded our error by waiting too long to call for help Adjective “Steamboat” is a compound noun. “I told him to leave and he left” is a compound sentence.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English compounen, from Anglo-French *cumpundre, from Latin componere, from com- + ponere to put — more at position
Adjective and Noun (1)
Middle English compouned, past participle of compounen — see compound entry 2
Noun (2)
by folk etymology from Malay kampung group of buildings, village
First Known Use
Noun (1)
1530, in the meaning defined at sense 2a
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
1679, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing compound
Kids Definition
compound 1 of 4
verb
com·pound käm-ˈpau̇nd
compounded; compounding
1
: to form by combining separate things
compound a medicine
2
: to make worse
compound a problem
3
: to pay (interest) on both an original amount of money and on the interest it has already earned
compound
2 of 4adjective
com·pound ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd
: made of or by the union of two or more parts
a compound leaf with three leaflets
compound
3 of 4noun
com·pound ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd
1
: a word made up of parts that are themselves words
The words "rowboat" and "hide-and-seek" are compounds.
2
: something (as a chemical) that is formed by combining two or more parts or elements
compound
4 of 4noun
com·pound ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd
: an enclosed area containing a group of buildings
Medical Definition
compound 1 of 3
transitive verb
com·pound käm-ˈpau̇nd, kəm-ˈ, ˈkäm-ˌ
: to form by combining parts
compound a medicine
compound
2 of 3adjective
com·pound ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd, käm-ˈ, kəm-ˈ
: composed of or resulting from union of separate elements, ingredients, or parts
a compound substance
compound glands
compound
3 of 3noun
com·pound ˈkäm-ˌpau̇nd
: something formed by a union of elements or parts
specifically : a distinct substance formed by chemical union of two or more ingredients in definite proportion by weight
Legal Definition
compound
transitive verb
com·pound kəm-ˈpau̇nd
1
: to agree for a consideration not to prosecute (an offense)
Note: Compounding a felony is a common-law crime.
2
: to pay (interest) on both the accrued interest and the principal
compounding 1 of 2
noun
as in mixture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- mixture
- synthesis
- mix
- blend
- fusion
- combining
- agglomeration
- consolidation
- amalgamation
- intermixture
- combination
- merging
- commingling
- intermingling
- coalescence
- linking
- connecting
- mingling
- coupling
- union
- merger
- unification
- junction
- connection
- reunification
- reunion
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dissolution
- division
- schism
- split
- disconnection
- breakup
- separation
- parting
- partition
- detachment
- disunion
- scission
- severance
- divorcement
compounding
2 of 2verb
1
as in increasing
to make greater in size, amount, or number we compounded our error by waiting too long to call for help Synonyms & Similar Words
- increasing
- accelerating
- expanding
- augmenting
- multiplying
- boosting
- raising
- escalating
- amplifying
- extending
- enhancing
- intensifying
- reinforcing
- swelling
- enlarging
- stoking
- maximizing
- strengthening
- upping
- hyping
- aggrandizing
- supersizing
- supplementing
- prolonging
- heightening
- pumping up
- inflating
- building up
- skyrocketing
- spiking
- developing
- lengthening
- protracting
- booming
- adding (to)
- stretching
- accumulating
- jumping
- dilating
- elongating
- distending
- complementing
- magnifying
- drawing out
- amassing
- collecting
- reenforcing
- parlaying
- blowing up
- racheting (up)
- bumping (up)
- ratcheting (up)
- following up
- fleshing (out)
- beefing (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- reducing
- decreasing
- diminishing
- lessening
- lowering
- downsizing
- dwindling
- curtailing
- shortening
- abating
- subtracting (from)
- abbreviating
- condensing
- contracting
- compressing
- minifying
- de-escalating
- abridging
- constricting
- retrenching
- cutting back
2
as in coupling
to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole the German language's propensity for compounding words Synonyms & Similar Words
- coupling
- connecting
- integrating
- combining
- stringing
- conjugating
- linking
- interconnecting
- yoking
- interlinking
- chaining
- concatenating
- interlocking
- welding
- hooking
- joining
- dovetailing
- catenating
- intermeshing
- wiring
- articulating
- cementing
- fusing
- hitching
- coalescing
- uniting
- cording
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- separating
- splitting
- dividing
- disconnecting
- disjoining
- disuniting
- uncoupling
- detaching
- unhitching
- disjointing
- dissevering
- parting
- unchaining
- disengaging
- unlinking
- unyoking
- rupturing
- severing
- cleaving
- sundering