n., adj., & v.
—n.
1 a mixture of two or more things, qualities, etc.
2 (also compound word) a word made up of two or more existing words.
3 Chem. a substance formed from two or more elements chemically united in fixed proportions.
—adj.
1 a made up of several ingredients. b consisting of several parts.
2 combined; collective.
3 Zool. consisting of individual organisms.
4 Biol. consisting of several or many parts.
—v.
1 tr. mix or combine (ingredients, ideas, motives, etc.) (grief compounded with fear).
2 tr. increase or complicate (difficulties etc.) (anxiety compounded by discomfort).
3 tr. make up (a composite whole).
4 tr. (also absol.) settle (a debt, dispute, etc.) by concession or special arrangement.
5 tr. Law a condone (a liability or offence) in exchange for money etc. b forbear from prosecuting (a felony) from private motives.
6 intr. (usu. foll. by with, for) Law come to terms with a person, for forgoing a claim etc. for an offence.
7 tr. combine (words or elements) into a word.
Phrases and idioms:
compound eye an eye consisting of numerous visual units, as found in insects and crustaceans. compound fracture a fracture complicated by a skin wound. compound interest interest payable on capital and its accumulated interest (cf. simple interest). compound interval Mus. an interval exceeding one octave. compound leaf a leaf consisting of several or many leaflets. compound sentence a sentence with more than one subject or predicate. compound time Mus. music having more than one group of simple-time units in each bar.
Derivatives:
compoundable adj.
Etymology: ME compoun(e) f. OF compondre f. L componere (as COM-, ponere put: -d as in expound)
2.
n.
1 a large open enclosure for housing workers etc., esp. miners in S. Africa.
2 an enclosure, esp. in India, China, etc., in which a factory or a house stands (cf. KAMPONG).
3 a large enclosed space in a prison or prison camp.
4 = POUND(3).
Etymology: Port. campon or Du. kampong f. Malay
Useful english dictionary. 2012.