compound
Compound (noun) means a fenced or walled area containing a group of buildings, often used for security or living quarters. Example: “The embassy compound was heavily guarded.”
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.
In finance, "compound interest" means interest earned on interest — different from simple interest, which is calculated only on the original amount.
Word forms
compounded past tense, compounds plural, compounds singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The embassy _____ was heavily guarded.
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.
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.