Definition: compound
Source: WordNet (r) 1.7
compound
adj 1: (botany) of leaf shapes; of leaves composed of several
similar parts or lobes [ant: simple]
2: consisting of two or more substances or ingredients or
elements or parts; "soap is a compound substance";
"housetop is a compound word"; "a blackberry is a compound
fruit"
3: (zoology) composed of many distinct individuals united to
form a whole or colony; "coral is a colonial organism"
[syn: colonial]
n 1: (chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or
more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by
weight [syn: chemical compound]
2: a whole formed by a union of two or more elements or parts
3: an enclosure of residences and other building (especially in
the Orient)
v 1: make more intense, stronger, or more marked; "The efforts
were intensified", "Her rudeness intensified his dislike
for her", "Potsmokers claim it heightens their
awareness"; "This event only deepened my convictions"
[syn: intensify, heighten, deepen]
2: put or add together; "combine resources" [syn: combine]
3: calculate principal and interest
4: create by mixing or combining
5: combine so as to form a whole; mix; "compound the
ingredients" [syn: combine]
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Compound \Com"pound\ (k[o^]m"pound), n. [Malay kompung a village.] In the East Indies, an inclosure containing a house, outbuildings, etc.
Compound \Com*pound"\ (k[o^]m*pound"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Compounding.] [OE. componen, compounen, L. componere, compositum; com-+ ponere to put set. The d is excrescent. See Position, and cf. Compon['e].] 1. To form or make by combining different elements, ingredients, or parts; as, to compound a medicine. Incapacitating him from successfully compounding a tale of this sort. --Sir W. Scott. 2. To put together, as elements, ingredients, or parts, in order to form a whole; to combine, mix, or unite. We have the power of altering and compounding those images into all the varieties of picture. --Addison. 3. To modify or change by combination with some other thing or part; to mingle with something else. Only compound me with forgotten dust. --Shak. 4. To compose; to constitute. [Obs.] His pomp and all what state compounds. --Shak. 5. To settle amicably; to adjust by agreement; to compromise; to discharge from obligation upon terms different from those which were stipulated; as, to compound a debt. I pray, my lords, let me compound this strife. --Shak. To compound a felony, to accept of a consideration for forbearing to prosecute, such compounding being an indictable offense. See Theftbote.
Compound \Com"pound\, a. [OE. compouned, p. p. of compounen. See
Compound, v. t.]
Composed of two or more elements, ingredients, parts;
produced by the union of several ingredients, parts, or
things; composite; as, a compound word.
Compound substances are made up of two or more simple
substances. --I. Watts.
Compound addition, subtraction, multiplication,
division (Arith.), the addition, subtraction, etc., of
compound numbers.
Compound crystal (Crystallog.), a twin crystal, or one
seeming to be made up of two or more crystals combined
according to regular laws of composition.
Compound engine (Mech.), a form of steam engine in which
the steam that has been used in a high-pressure cylinder
is made to do further service in a larger low-pressure
cylinder, sometimes in several larger cylinders,
successively.
Compound ether. (Chem.) See under Ether.
Compound flower (Bot.), a flower head resembling a single
flower, but really composed of several florets inclosed in
a common calyxlike involucre, as the sunflower or
dandelion.
Compound fraction. (Math.) See Fraction.
Compound fracture. See Fracture.
Compound householder, a householder who compounds or
arranges with his landlord that his rates shall be
included in his rents. [Eng.]
Compound interest. See Interest.
Compound larceny. (Law) See Larceny.
Compound leaf (Bot.), a leaf having two or more separate
blades or leaflets on a common leafstalk.
Compound microscope. See Microscope.
Compound motion. See Motion.
Compound number (Math.), one constructed according to a
varying scale of denomination; as, 3 cwt., 1 qr., 5 lb.;
-- called also denominate number.
Compound pier (Arch.), a clustered column.
Compound quantity (Alg.), a quantity composed of two or
more simple quantities or terms, connected by the sign +
(plus) or - (minus). Thus, a + b - c, and bb - b, are
compound quantities.
Compound radical. (Chem.) See Radical.
Compound ratio (Math.), the product of two or more ratios;
thus ab:cd is a ratio compounded of the simple ratios a:c
and b:d.
Compound rest (Mech.), the tool carriage of an engine
lathe.
Compound screw (Mech.), a screw having on the same axis two
or more screws with different pitch (a differential
screw), or running in different directions (a right and
left screw).
Compound time (Mus.), that in which two or more simple
measures are combined in one; as, 6-8 time is the joining
of two measures of 3-8 time.
Compound word, a word composed of two or more words;
specifically, two or more words joined together by a
hyphen.
Compound \Com*pound"\, v. i.
To effect a composition; to come to terms of agreement; to
agree; to settle by a compromise; -- usually followed by with
before the person participating, and for before the thing
compounded or the consideration.
Here's a fellow will help you to-morrow; . . . compound
with him by the year. --Shak.
They were at last glad to compound for his bare
commitment to the Tower. --Clarendon.
Cornwall compounded to furnish ten oxen after
Michaelmas for thirty pounds. --R. Carew.
Compound for sins they are inclined to By damning those
they have no mind to. --Hudibras.
Compound \Com"pound\, n.
1. That which is compounded or formed by the union or mixture
of elements ingredients, or parts; a combination of
simples; a compound word; the result of composition.
--Shak.
Rare compound of oddity, frolic, and fun.
--Goldsmith.
When the word ``bishopric'' was first made, it was
made as a compound. --Earle.
2. (Chem.) A union of two or more ingredients in definite
proportions by weight, so combined as to form a distinct
substance; as, water is a compound of oxygen and hydrogen.
Note: Every definite chemical compound always contains the
same elements, united in the same proportions by
weight, and with the same internal arrangement.
Binary compound (Chem.). See under Binary.
Carbon compounds (Chem.). See under Carbon.
