compound

Possibly from Malay kampong, kampung (“group of buildings, village”), via Dutch or Portuguese [1].

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkɒmpaʊnd/
• (US) enPR: kŏm'pound, IPA^(key): /ˈkɑmpaʊnd/

compound (plural compounds)

1. an enclosure within which workers, prisoners, or soldiers are confined
2. a group of buildings situated close together, e.g. for a school or block of offices
   • Masayuki, Yuda (2019-03-07), “Thai court: pro-Thaksin party must disband for nominating princess”, in Nikkei Asian Review‎, Nikkei Inc, retrieved 2019-03-07

     Some 20 supporters managed to get inside the court compounds. About half an hour after the verdict was delivered, they gathered near the Constitutional Court entrance and shouted: "On March 24, use your pen to oust the dictator."

• (enclosure within which workers, prisoners, or soldiers are confined): gaol/jail, pen, pound, prison

From Middle English compounen, from Middle French componre, compondre (“to put together”), from Latin componō, from Latin com- (“together”) + ponō (“to put”).

• adj. and noun (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkɒmpaʊnd/
• adj. and noun (US) enPR: kŏm'pound, IPA^(key): /ˈkɑmpaʊnd/
• verb (US, UK) enPR: kəmpound', IPA^(key): /kəmˈpaʊnd/

• audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aʊnd

compound (not comparable)

1. composed of elements; not simple

   a compound word

   • I. Watts

     Compound substances are made up of two or more simple substances.

2. (mathematics) dealing with numbers of various denominations of quantity, or with processes more complex than the simple process

   compound addition; compound proportion

3. (music) An octave higher than originally (i.e. a compound major second is equivalent to a major ninth).

• (composed of elements): composite

• (composed of elements): simple

• compound chocolate
• compound interest
• compound leaf
• compoundly

compound (plural compounds)

1. Anything made by combining several things.
2. (chemistry, dated) A substance made from any combination elements.
3. (chemistry) A substance formed by chemical union of two or more ingredients in definite proportions by weight.
4. (linguistics) A lexeme that consists of more than one stem; compound word; for example laptop, formed from lap and top.
5. (rail transport) a compound locomotive, a steam locomotive with both high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders.

• (anything made by combining several things): amalgam, blend, combination, composite, mix, mixture
• (word): compound word

• (word): closed compound, hyphenated compound, open compound
• (chemistry): chemical compound

compound (third-person singular simple present compounds, present participle compounding, simple past and past participle compounded)

1. (transitive) To form (a resulting mixture) by combining different elements, ingredients, or parts.

   to compound a medicine

   • Sir Walter Scott

     incapacitating him from successfully compounding a tale of this sort

2. (transitive) To assemble (ingredients) into a whole; to combine, mix, or unite.
   • Addison

     We have the power of altering and compounding those images into all the varieties of picture.

3. (transitive) To modify or change by combination with some other thing or part; to mingle with something else.
   • Shakespeare

     Only compound me with forgotten dust.

4. (transitive, law) To settle by agreeing on less than the claim, or on different terms than those stipulated.

   to compound a debt

5. (transitive) To settle amicably; to adjust by agreement; to compromise.
   • Shakespeare

     I pray, my lords, let me compound this strife.

6. (intransitive) To come to terms of agreement; to agree; to settle by a compromise; usually followed by with before the person participating, and for before the thing compounded or the consideration.
   • Shakespeare

     Here's a fellow will help you to-morrow; […] compound with him by the year.

   • Clarendon

     They were at last glad to compound for his bare commitment to the Tower.

   • R. Carew

     Cornwall compounded to furnish ten oxen after Michaelmas for thirty pounds.

   • Hudibras

     Compound for sins they are inclined to / By damning those they have no mind to.

7. (transitive, obsolete) To compose; to constitute.
   • Shakespeare

     his pomp and all what state compounds

8. (intransitive, finance) To increase in value with interest, where the interest is earned on both the principal sum and prior earned interest.
9. (transitive) To worsen a situation
   • New Family Structure Study

     This problem is compounded when these studies compare data from the small convenience samples of gay parenting with data on heterosexual parenting

The usage in sense 9 above is widespread but not wholly accepted. The original meaning of the word (see senses 4, 5 and 6 above) implies resolution of a problem, not worsening. It has been suggested (Fraser 1973) that the reverse usage arose by confusion with phrases such as compound interest.

• (to come to terms of agreement): agree
• (to put together): assemble, blend, combine, join, join together, mix, put together, unite
• (to add to): augment, increase
• (law: to settle by agreeing on less than the claim): settle
• (to compose): form, make up; see also Thesaurus:compose

• compoundable

• Compound in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)