Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Compound?

\Com"pound\ (k[o^]m"pound), n. [Malay kompung a village.] In the East Indies, an inclosure containing a house, outbuildings, etc.
\Com*pound"\ (k[o^]m*pound"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Compounded}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Compounding}.] [OE. componen, compounen, L. componere, compositum; com-+ ponere to put set. The d is excrescent. See {Position}, and cf. {Compon['e]}.] 1. To form or make by combining different elements, ingredients, or parts; as, to compound a medicine. Incapacitating him from successfully compounding a tale of this sort. --Sir W. Scott. 2. To put together, as elements, ingredients, or parts, in order to form a whole; to combine, mix, or unite. We have the power of altering and compounding those images into all the varieties of picture. --Addison. 3. To modify or change by combination with some other thing or part; to mingle with something else. Only compound me with forgotten dust. --Shak. 4. To compose; to constitute. [Obs.] His pomp and all what state compounds. --Shak. 5. To settle amicably; to adjust by agreement; to compromise; to discharge from obligation upon terms different from those which were stipulated; as, to compound a debt. I pray, my lords, let me compound this strife. --Shak. {To compound a felony}, to accept of a consideration for forbearing to prosecute, such compounding being an indictable offense. See {Theftbote}.
\Com*pound"\, v. i. To effect a composition; 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. Here's a fellow will help you to-morrow; . . . compound with him by the year. --Shak. They were at last glad to compound for his bare commitment to the Tower. --Clarendon. Cornwall compounded to furnish ten oxen after Michaelmas for thirty pounds. --R. Carew. Compound for sins they are inclined to By damning those they have no mind to. --Hudibras.
\Com"pound\, a. [OE. compouned, p. p. of compounen. See {Compound}, v. t.] Composed of two or more elements, ingredients, parts; produced by the union of several ingredients, parts, or things; composite; as, a compound word. Compound substances are made up of two or more simple substances. --I. Watts. {Compound addition}, {subtraction}, {multiplication}, {division} (Arith.), the addition, subtraction, etc., of compound numbers. {Compound crystal} (Crystallog.), a twin crystal, or one seeming to be made up of two or more crystals combined according to regular laws of composition. {Compound engine} (Mech.), a form of steam engine in which the steam that has been used in a high-pressure cylinder is made to do further service in a larger low-pressure cylinder, sometimes in several larger cylinders, successively. {Compound ether}. (Chem.) See under {Ether}. {Compound flower} (Bot.), a flower head resembling a single flower, but really composed of several florets inclosed in a common calyxlike involucre, as the sunflower or dandelion. {Compound fraction}. (Math.) See {Fraction}. {Compound fracture}. See {Fracture}. {Compound householder}, a householder who compounds or arranges with his landlord that his rates shall be included in his rents. [Eng.] {Compound interest}. See {Interest}. {Compound larceny}. (Law) See {Larceny}. {Compound leaf} (Bot.), a leaf having two or more separate blades or leaflets on a common leafstalk. {Compound microscope}. See {Microscope}. {Compound motion}. See {Motion}. {Compound number} (Math.), one constructed according to a varying scale of denomination; as, 3 cwt., 1 qr., 5 lb.; -- called also {denominate number}. {Compound pier} (Arch.), a clustered column. {Compound quantity} (Alg.), a quantity composed of two or more simple quantities or terms, connected by the sign + (plus) or - (minus). Thus, a + b - c, and bb - b, are compound quantities. {Compound radical}. (Chem.) See {Radical}. {Compound ratio} (Math.), the product of two or more ratios; thus ab:cd is a ratio compounded of the simple ratios a:c and b:d. {Compound rest} (Mech.), the tool carriage of an engine lathe. {Compound screw} (Mech.), a screw having on the same axis two or more screws with different pitch (a differential screw), or running in different directions (a right and left screw). {Compound time} (Mus.), that in which two or more simple measures are combined in one; as, 6-8 time is the joining of two measures of 3-8 time. {Compound word}, a word composed of two or more words; specifically, two or more words joined together by a hyphen.
\Com"pound\, n. 1. That which is compounded or formed by the union or mixture of elements ingredients, or parts; a combination of simples; a compound word; the result of composition. --Shak. Rare compound of oddity, frolic, and fun. --Goldsmith. When the word ``bishopric'' was first made, it was made as a compound. --Earle. 2. (Chem.) A union of two or more ingredients in definite proportions by weight, so combined as to form a distinct substance; as, water is a compound of oxygen and hydrogen. Note: Every definite chemical compound always contains the same elements, united in the same proportions by weight, and with the same internal arrangement. {Binary compound} (Chem.). See under {Binary}. {Carbon compounds} (Chem.). See under {Carbon}.