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1. Dictionary

   com·pound

   noun

   • 1. a thing that is composed of two or more separate elements; a mixture: "the air smelled like a compound of diesel and gasoline fumes"
   • ▪ a substance formed from two or more elements chemically united in fixed proportions: "a compound of hydrogen and oxygen"
   • ▪ a word made up of two or more existing words, such as steamship.

   adjective

   • 1. made up or consisting of two or more existing parts or elements: "a compound noun"
   • ▪ (of interest) payable on both capital and the accumulated interest: "compound interest"
   • ▪ (especially of a leaf, flower, or eye) consisting of two or more simple parts or individuals in combination.

   verb

   • 1. make up (a composite whole); constitute: "a dialect compounded of Spanish and Dutch" Similar be composed ofbe made up ofbe constituted ofbe formed from
   • ▪ mix or combine (ingredients or constituents): "yellow pastas compounded with lemon zest or saffron" Similar mixcombineblendput togetheramalgamatealloyfusesynthesizecoalesceminglemeldinterminglerare:admixcommixcommingle
   • ▪ calculate (interest) on previously accumulated interest: "the yield at which the interest is compounded"
   • 2. make (something bad) worse; intensify the negative aspects of: "I compounded the problem by trying to make wrong things right" Similar aggravateworsenmake worseadd toaugmentexacerbateintensifyheightenincreasemagnifyadd insult to injuryrub salt in the woundadd fuel to the fire/flamescomplicateOpposite alleviateimprove
   • 3. forbear from prosecuting (a felony) in exchange for money or other consideration.
   • ▪ settle (a debt or other matter) in exchange for money or other consideration: "he compounded the case with the defendant for a cash payment"

   Word Origin late Middle Englishcompoune (verb), from Old French compoun-, present tense stem of compondre, from Latin componere ‘put together’. The final -d was added in the 16th century on the pattern of expound and propound. compound1 (sense 2 of the verb) arose through a misinterpretation of the legal phrase compound a felony, which means ‘refrain from prosecuting a felony in exchange for money or other consideration’. This led to the use of compound in legal contexts to mean ‘make something bad worse’, which then became accepted in general usage.

   Derivatives

   • 1. compoundable adjective

   Scrabble Points: 15

   • C

     3

   • O

     1

   • M

     3

   • P

     3

   • O

     1

   • U

     1

   • N

     1

   • D

     2

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2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishCOMPOUND | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   Compound verbs are two words which combine to make one meaning. The first word is usually a noun, an adjective or a preposition, and the second word is a verb. The words are sometimes written as one word and sometimes joined by hyphens.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › compoundCompound Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › compound

   • Cached

   Jul 8, 2012 · The meaning of COMPOUND is 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. How to use compound in a sentence.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryCOMPOUND | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   COMPOUND meaning: 1. a chemical that combines two or more elements: 2. something consisting of two or more different…. Learn more.

5. www.dictionary.com › browse › compoundCOMPOUND Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › compound

   • Cached

   A substance consisting of atoms or ions of two or more different elements in definite proportions joined by chemical bonds into a molecule. The elements cannot be separated by physical means. Water, for example, is a compound having two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom per molecule.

6. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishCOMPOUND definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   In grammar, a compound noun, adjective, or verb is one that is made up of two or more words, for example 'fire engine', 'bottle-green', and 'force-feed'. In grammar, a compound sentence is one that is made up of two or more main clauses. Compare complex, simple.

7. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › compoundCompound - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › compound

   noun. (chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight. synonyms: chemical compound. see more. adjective. composed of more than one part. “ compound leaves are composed of several lobes” “ compound flower heads” synonyms: bilobate, bilobated, bilobed. having two lobes. binate.

8. www.britannica.com › science › chemical-compoundChemical compound | Definition, Examples, & Types | Britannica

   www.britannica.com › science › chemical-compound

   • Cached

   Chemical compound, any substance composed of identical molecules consisting of atoms of two or more chemical elements. All the matter in the universe is composed of the atoms of more than 100 different chemical elements, which are found both in pure form and combined in chemical compounds.