Origin: 1300-1400 Old French compas measure, circle, compass, from compasser to measure
1 [countable] an instrument that shows directions and has a needle that always points north: a map and compass2[countable]math a V-shaped instrument with one sharp point and a pen or pencil at the other end, used for drawing circles and arcs (=parts of circles), and for measuring distances on maps3[uncountable] formal the area or range of subjects that someone is responsible for or that is discussed in a book: compass of Within the brief compass of a single page, the author covers most of the major points. [Origin: 1300–1400 Old French compas measure, circle, compass, from compasser to measure]