compound

SayKOM-powndUS/ˈkɑmpaʊnd//ˈkɒmpaʊnd/

As a verbkuhm-POWND

Pluralcompounds

Verbcompounds, compounding, compounded

17 meanings of compound

Practice

1
chemical substancenouncountable
A substance formed when two or more chemical elements bond together in fixed proportions by weight.
Sodium chloride is a compound of sodium and chlorine in a fixed ratio.
Chemists synthesize new compounds to test their medical uses.
UsageA compound of sodium and chlorine. In chemistry a compound and a mixture are different things, so keep the words apart.
Oppositeelement
Note
Chemistry draws a hard line that everyday speech does not. In ordinary English a compound can be any blend or mixture, as in the general sense. To a chemist, it is two or more elements bonded in definite proportions by weight, and a mixture is precisely what it is not.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
A chemical compound contains two or more different elements chemically bonded together. chem.purdue.edu
The constituent elements of a compound occur in definite proportions by mass. chemed.chem.purdue.edu
Chemistry distinguishes a compound from a mixture, whose constituents are physically intermingled. chem.purdue.edu
2
make worseverbtransitive
To make a problem or difficult situation worse.
The new tax rules compounded the difficulties facing small businesses.
Ignoring the leak will only compound the damage to the house.
UsageThe object is usually something already bad: compound a problem, compound the damage, compound the difficulties.
Similarworsen, aggravate, exacerbate, intensify, magnify
Oppositealleviate, ease, mitigate, relieve
Note
Simon Tisdall, writing in 2020, describes an act of national self-interest that "compounded anger across the EU." The sense sits close to the mixing verb, since whatever is combined with trouble becomes more trouble.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
Simon Tisdall wrote the cited passage in an article published in 2020. theguardian.com
Tisdall used the exact words quoted to describe the effect of national self-interest. theguardian.com
3
nouncountable
An area enclosed by a fence or wall that contains a group of buildings, such as homes, offices, a prison camp, or storage.
The family lived in a compound of three houses surrounded by a high wall.
The company moved into a modern office compound downtown.
Similarenclosure, complex
4
adjective
Made up of two or more parts or elements rather than being simple.
The eye of an insect is a compound structure with many separate lenses.
A compound sentence joins two independent clauses with a word such as "and" or "but".
UsageIts natural opposite is simple: a compound word or sentence versus a simple one.
Similarcomposite
Oppositesimple
Note
It comes from Middle English compounen, through French from Latin componō: com- "together" plus ponō "to put." Everything assembled descends from it, from a compound word to Isaac Watts's "compound substances."
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
The word derives from Middle English compounen through French from Latin componō, comprising com- meaning together and ponō meaning to put. en.wiktionary.org
Isaac Watts used the phrase compound substances. en.wikipedia.org
5
grow with interestverbintransitive
To grow in value over time as interest accrues on both the original sum and the interest already earned.
Left untouched, the investment will compound over several decades.
Interest compounds daily in many modern savings accounts.
UsageThe money or interest is the subject: savings compound; interest compounds daily, monthly or annually.
Note
Growth accelerates because each period's interest joins the base on which the next period's interest is figured.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
Compound interest produces accelerating growth because accumulated interest earns further interest. consumerfinance.gov
6
mix ingredientsverbtransitive
To form a mixture by combining different ingredients, elements, or parts.
The pharmacist compounded the medicine from several raw ingredients.
Workers compound the rubber with chemicals to make it stronger.
UsageCompound something from its ingredients, or one thing with another: rubber compounded with chemicals.
Similarmix, combine, blend, mingle, amalgamate
Oppositeseparate
Note
The verb of mixing reaches well beyond the pharmacy, where one compounds a medicine. Shakespeare's "compound me with forgotten dust" mingles a body with the earth. Addison speaks of compounding images into pictures, and Walter Scott's Ivanhoe of compounding a tale.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
Shakespeare wrote “compound me with forgotten dust,” referring to burial; King Henry IV speaks the line in Henry IV, Part II. pages.uoregon.edu
Walter Scott's Ivanhoe refers to compounding a tale. gutenberg.org
7
nouncountable
A substance or thing made by combining two or more ingredients or parts, such as a polishing compound.
The apothecary prepared a healing compound from herbs and animal fat.
A compound of spurge, cardamom, cinnamon of Mecca, pellitory, ginger, nettle seed is an Arab specific for sexual weakness.
1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs
UsageIn chemistry a simple blend is a mixture, not a true compound, which needs bonded elements.
Similarmixture, blend, preparation, composite, amalgam
Note
The older, looser chemistry survives in recipes and remedies. Harry E. Wedeck's Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs (1961) lists "a compound of spurge, cardamom, cinnamon of Mecca," meaning simply a preparation of ingredients. It is still everyday in trade names such as joint compound and polishing compound.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
Harry E. Wedeck wrote Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs. en.wikipedia.org
Wedeck's book contains the quoted preparation of spurge, cardamom, and cinnamon of Mecca. en.wiktionary.org
8
joined wordnouncountable
A word formed by joining two or more stems or words, such as "bookshop" or "high school".
"Bookshop" is a compound built from the stems "book" and "shop".
German is famous for forming long compounds from several pieces.

Less common meanings

9
workout movenounabbreviationellipsis
Short for compound exercise: a strength exercise, like a squat, that uses several joints and muscle groups at once.
His program centers on three big compounds and a few isolation moves.
The coach recommends a compound before any accessory work.
UsageMostly gym talk. For a general reader, compound exercise is clearer.
Note
Gym talk clips compound exercise, a movement that works several muscle groups at once, down to its first word.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
Compound is a shortened form of compound exercise. en.wiktionary.org
A compound exercise works several muscle groups simultaneously. en.wiktionary.org
10
settle debtverbtransitive
To settle a debt or legal claim by accepting payment of less than the full amount, or on terms different from those originally set.
The creditors chose to compound the outstanding loans rather than pursue lengthy litigation.
The struggling store agreed to compound its debts by paying half of what it owed.
Similarsettle
Note
A creditor's verb: to compound a debt is to accept less than the full claim, or different terms, and call the matter closed. Its partner is the noun for paying off prosecution, which carries the same bargain into criminal law. In both, the word means a negotiated settlement in place of insisting on the whole.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts
A creditor can compound a debt by accepting a smaller amount in settlement of the whole. elitigation.sg
Compounding can replace the original debt with an agreed alternative obligation. elitigation.sg
The noun compound can denote payment to avoid criminal prosecution, paralleling the settlement sense of the verb. en.wiktionary.org
11
verbobsoletetransitive
To compose or constitute; to make up a whole from constituent parts.
his pomp and all what state compounds
c. 1605, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”
Similarcompose, constitute, comprise, form
Note
An obsolete construction in which the parts are the subject and the whole is the object. Shakespeare's Timon of Athens speaks of "his pomp and all what state compounds." Modern English says compose or constitute instead. Using compound this way now reads as a deliberate echo of older writing rather than as current usage.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts
Compound has an obsolete transitive sense meaning compose or constitute, with constituent parts making up a whole. en.wiktionary.org
The quoted words occur in Shakespeare's Timon of Athens; the speaker is Flavius in Act 4, scene 2. folger.edu
12
adjective
Dealing with quantities expressed in several different denominations, or with operations more involved than the basic single-unit process.
13
noun
A steam locomotive that expands steam in stages, using both high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders to extract more work from it.
14
adjective
Of a musical interval, larger than an octave: a simple interval widened by one or more octaves.
15
verbarchaic
To settle a dispute or come to terms by mutual agreement or compromise.
They were at last glad to compound for his bare commitment to the Tower.
Can we date this quote?, Edward [Hyde, 1st] Earl of Clarendon, in The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England
16
noun
A legal arrangement in which an accused offender avoids prosecution by paying a financial penalty to the authorities.
17
verb
Of a racehorse, to tire and fail to maintain its pace, especially in the closing stages of a race.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of compound apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meaning 3

This word possibly comes from the Malay "kampong" or "kampung" ("group of buildings, village"), reaching English via Dutch or Portuguese, and was altered under the influence of the unrelated "compound" (to combine). It is a doublet of "kampung."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts

The enclosure noun possibly derives from Malay kampong or kampung, meaning a group of buildings or a village. en.wiktionary.org
Dutch or Portuguese may have transmitted the word into English. en.wikipedia.org
The word was altered under the influence of the etymologically separate compound meaning to combine. en.wiktionary.org
Compound and kampung are doublets. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 1–2, 4–11

Latin com- ("together") and ponō ("to put") combined as componō, which became Middle French componre ("to put together") and then Middle English compounen.