compound
kom-POWND
Compound (noun) means a fenced or walled area containing a group of buildings, often used for security or living quarters. Example: “Workers lived in a walled compound near the mine.”
noun
1
A fenced or walled area containing a group of buildings, often used for security or living quarters.
"Workers lived in a walled compound near the mine."
"Guards checked everyone who entered the compound gates."
"The embassy compound was heavily guarded."
adjective
1
Made up of two or more parts or elements combined.
""Football" is another compound noun, made from two smaller words."
"An insect's compound eye is made up of many tiny lenses."
""Toothbrush" is a compound word."
verb
1
To combine different elements or ingredients into one substance.
"Chemists compound the powders with oil to make a smooth ointment."
"The cook compounded flour, butter and sugar into a thick paste."
"The pharmacist compounded the medication to the doctor's specifications."
2
To make a problem worse by adding to it.
"Heavy rain compounded the delays caused by the roadworks."
"Don't compound the mistake by lying about it."
"Missing the deadline only compounded her stress."
3
(finance) To calculate interest on both the original amount and the interest already earned.
"Interest compounds each year, so small savings grow faster over time."
"If the bank compounds interest quarterly, your balance will rise slightly faster."
"The savings account compounds interest monthly."
How to use compound
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething made of combined parts, an enclosed group of buildings, or to make something worse or grow through combined effects.
Common mistake
In finance, "compound interest" means interest earned on interest — different from simple interest, which is calculated only on the original amount.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
compound interest
compound word
compound the problem
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Word forms
- Plural
- compounds
- Third person singular
- compounds
- Past tense
- compounded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Workers lived in a walled _____ near the mine.
Etymology
Possibly from Malay kampung, "a group of buildings or village," reshaped over time under the influence of the unrelated English word meaning "to combine," from Latin componere.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for compound
See all rhymes for compound →Frequently asked questions
What does “compound” mean?
The word “compound” means a fenced or walled area containing a group of buildings, often used for security or living quarters. In plain terms, something made of combined parts, an enclosed group of buildings, or to make something worse or grow through combined effects.
How do you pronounce “compound”?
“Compound” is pronounced kom-POWND (/ˈkɑmˈpaʊnd/ in IPA).
How do you use “compound” in a sentence?
Here is “compound” used in a sentence: “The embassy compound was heavily guarded.”
What part of speech is “compound”?
Depending on how it is used, “compound” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “compound” come from?
The word “compound” comes from Latin. Possibly from Malay kampung, "a group of buildings or village," reshaped over time under the influence of the unrelated English word meaning "to combine," from Latin componere.
Is “compound” a common word?
“Compound” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “compound” have?
“Compound” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a fenced or walled area containing a group of buildings, often used for security or living quarters.
What is the difference between a compound and a complex?
A compound is a fenced or walled area enclosing a group of buildings, with the emphasis on the surrounding barrier used for security or living quarters. A complex is a group of connected buildings or facilities serving a shared purpose, without the same emphasis on an enclosing wall or fence.
When should you use compound instead of mixture?
Use compound when two or more parts are combined into a single unified thing, as in the adjective sense of "made up of two or more elements." Use mixture when the separate parts remain distinguishable and are not truly merged.
What are common phrases that use the adjective compound?
As an adjective meaning made up of two or more combined parts, compound appears in fixed phrases such as "compound word," "compound interest," "compound fracture," and "compound sentence." In each, it signals that the thing is built from multiple joined elements.
