compound

compound

compound¹ [käm pound′, käm′pound΄; kəm pound′; ] for adj.usually & for n.always [, käm′pound΄]

vt.

[ME compounen < OFr compon(d)re, to arrange, direct < L componere, to put together: see COMPOSITE]

1. to mix or combine

2. to make by combining parts or elements

3. to settle by mutual agreement; specif., to settle (a debt) by a compromise payment of less than the total claim

4. to compute (interest) on the sum of the principal and the accumulated interest which has accrued at regular intervals [interest compounded semiannually]

5. to increase or intensify by adding new elements [to compound a problem]

vi.

1. to agree

2. to compromise with a creditor

3. to combine and form a compound

adj.

made of two or more separate parts or elements

n.

1. a thing formed by the mixture or combination of two or more parts or elements

2. a substance containing two or more elements chemically combined in fixed proportions: distinguished from MIXTURE in that the constituents of a compound lose their individual characteristics and the compound has new characteristics

3. a word composed of two or more base morphemes, whether hyphenated or not: English compounds are usually distinguished from phrases by reduced stress on one of the elements and by changes in meaning (Ex.: black ʹ bird ′, black ʹ bird ʹ; grand ʹ- aunt ′, grand ʹ aunt ʹ)

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compound a felony or compound a crime [< COMPOUND¹ vt. 3]

to agree, for a bribe or repayment, not to inform about or prosecute for a felony (or crime): it is an illegal act

compound² [käm′pound΄]

n.

[Anglo-Ind < Malay kampong, enclosure]

1. KAMPONG

2. an enclosed space with a building or group of buildings within it