noun
Uncommon
compilation
kom-pih-LAY-shuhn
Compilation (noun) means a collection of things gathered together from different sources into one place. Example: “The album is a compilation of the band's greatest hits.”
noun
1
A collection of things gathered together from different sources into one place.
"The album is a compilation of the band's greatest hits."
"She put together a compilation of research from various journals."
"The magazine published a compilation of its readers' best holiday photographs."
2
The process of translating source code into a form a computer can run.
"The compilation failed because of a missing semicolon in the code."
"Compilation can take several minutes on an older laptop."
"The programmer waited for compilation to finish before testing the app."
How to use compilation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA collected set of things — songs, data, or writing — brought together from various places.
Common pairings
compilation album
video compilation
data compilation
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Word forms
- Plural
- compilations
Fill the gap
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The album is a _____ of the band's greatest hits.
Etymology
From Latin compilatio, "a plundering or gathering," related to compilare, "to plunder" — the same root as "compile."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for compilation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for compilation →
Frequently asked questions
What does “compilation” mean?
The word “compilation” means a collection of things gathered together from different sources into one place. In plain terms, a collected set of things — songs, data, or writing — brought together from various places.
How do you pronounce “compilation”?
“Compilation” is pronounced kom-pih-LAY-shuhn (/ˌkɑm.pɪˈleɪ.ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “compilation” in a sentence?
Here is “compilation” used in a sentence: “The album is a compilation of the band's greatest hits.”
What part of speech is “compilation”?
“Compilation” is a noun.
Where does the word “compilation” come from?
The word “compilation” comes from Latin. From Latin compilatio, "a plundering or gathering," related to compilare, "to plunder" — the same root as "compile.".
Is “compilation” a common word?
“Compilation” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “compilation” have?
“Compilation” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a collection of things gathered together from different sources into one place.
What is the difference between a compilation and a collection?
A compilation specifically involves gathering items from different sources into a single, organized whole, such as a compilation album drawing songs from several artists. A collection can simply be a group of related items without implying they were assembled from separate sources.
How is compilation used differently in music versus computing?
In music and media, a compilation refers to a gathered set of works, such as a compilation of greatest hits, placed together in one release. In computing, compilation refers to the separate process of translating source code into a form a computer can run, unrelated to the media sense.
What is a compilation album?
A compilation album is a collection of previously released or various tracks gathered from different sources, such as multiple artists or earlier releases, and packaged together as a single album.
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