compass
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com·pass
(kŭm′pəs, kŏm′-)n.
1.
a. A device used to determine geographic direction, usually consisting of a magnetic needle or needles horizontally mounted or suspended and free to pivot until aligned with the earth's magnetic field.
b. Another device, such as a radio compass or a gyrocompass, used for determining geographic direction.
2. A V-shaped device for describing circles or circular arcs and for taking measurements, consisting of a pair of rigid, end-hinged legs, one of which is equipped with a pen, pencil, or other marker and the other with a sharp point providing a pivot about which the drawing leg is turned. Also called pair of compasses.
3. Awareness or understanding of one's purpose or objectives: "Lacking a coherent intellectual and moral commitment, [he] was forced to find his compass in personal experience" (Doris Kearns Goodwin).
4.
a. An enclosing line or boundary; a circumference: outside the compass of the fence. See Synonyms at circumference.
b. A restricted space or area: four huge crates within the compass of the elevator.
c. Range or scope, as of understanding, perception, or authority: The subject falls outside the compass of this study. See Synonyms at range.
5. Music See range.
tr.v. com·passed, com·pass·ing, com·pass·es
1. To make a circuit of; circle: The sailboat compassed the island.
2. To surround; encircle: The trees compass the grave.
3. To understand; comprehend: "God ... is too great a profundity to be compassed by human cerebration" (Flann O'Brian).
4.
a. To accomplish or bring about: "He compassed his end only by the exercise of gentle violence" (Henry James).
b. To gain or achieve: "She had compassed the high felicity of seeing the two men beautifully take to each another" (Henry James).
5. To scheme; plot: compass the death of the king.
adj.
Forming a curve.
[Middle English compas, circle, compass, from Old French, from compasser, to measure, from Vulgar Latin *compassāre, to pace off : Latin com-, com- + Latin passus, step; see pace1.]
com′pass·a·ble adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
compass
(ˈkʌmpəs)n
1. an instrument for finding direction, usually having a magnetized needle which points to magnetic north swinging freely on a pivot
2. (Mathematics) (often plural) Also called: pair of compasses an instrument used for drawing circles, measuring distances, etc, that consists of two arms, joined at one end, one arm of which serves as a pivot or stationary reference point, while the other is extended or describes a circle
3. limits or range: within the compass of education.
4. (Music, other) music the interval between the lowest and highest note attainable by a voice or musical instrument
5. archaic a circular course
vb (tr)
6. to encircle or surround; hem in
7. to comprehend or grasp mentally
8. to achieve; attain; accomplish
9. obsolete to plot
[C13: from Old French compas, from compasser to measure, from Vulgar Latin compassāre (unattested) to pace out, ultimately from Latin passus step]
ˈcompassable adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
com•pass
(ˈkʌm pəs)n.
1. an instrument for determining directions, as by means of a freely rotating magnetized needle that indicates magnetic north.
2. Often, compasses. an instrument for drawing or describing circles, measuring distances, etc., consisting generally of two hinged, movable legs (often used with pair of).
3. the enclosing line or limits of any area; perimeter.
4. space within limits; scope: the broad compass of the novel.
5. the total range of tones of a voice or of a musical instrument.
6. due or proper limits; moderate bounds: to act within the compass of propriety.
7. a passing round; circuit: the compass of a year.
adj. 8. curved; forming a curve or arc: a compass roof.
v.t. 9. to go or move around; make the circuit of: to compass the city on foot.
10. to extend or stretch around; surround; encircle: A stone wall compasses the property.
11. to attain or achieve; accomplish; obtain.
12. to contrive; plot; scheme.
13. to make curved or circular.
14. to comprehend; grasp, as with the mind.
[1250–1300; (v.) Middle English < Old French compasser to measure < Vulgar Latin *compāssāre, v. derivative of *compāssus equal step (Latin com- com- + pāssus pace1); (n.) Middle English < Old French, derivative of compasser]
com′pass•a•ble, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
com·pass
(kŭm′pəs)1. A device used to determine geographical direction, usually consisting of a magnetic needle mounted so that it points to magnetic north.
2. A device used for drawing circles and arcs and for measuring distances, consisting of two legs hinged together at one end.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
compass
Past participle: compassed
Gerund: compassing
| Imperative |
|---|
| compass |
| compass |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  compass - navigational instrument for finding directionsgyrocompass - a compass that does not depend on magnetism but uses a gyroscope instead magnetic compass - compass based on an indicator (as a magnetic needle) that points to the magnetic north navigational instrument - an instrument used for navigating |
| 2. |  compass - an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"; "a piano has a greater range than the human voice"; "the ambit of municipal legislation"; "within the compass of this article"; "within the scope of an investigation"; "outside the reach of the law"; "in the political orbit of a world power"extent - the distance or area or volume over which something extends; "the vast extent of the desert"; "an orchard of considerable extent" approximate range, ballpark - near to the scope or range of something; "his answer wasn't even in the right ballpark" confines - a bounded scope; "he stayed within the confines of the city" contrast - the range of optical density and tone on a photographic negative or print (or the extent to which adjacent areas on a television screen differ in brightness) internationality, internationalism - quality of being international in scope; "he applauded the internationality of scientific terminology" latitude - scope for freedom of e.g. action or thought; freedom from restriction purview, horizon, view - the range of interest or activity that can be anticipated; "It is beyond the horizon of present knowledge" gamut - a complete extent or range: "a face that expressed a gamut of emotions" spectrum - a broad range of related objects or values or qualities or ideas or activities | |
| 3. | compass - the limit of capability; "within the compass of education" | |
| 4. | compass - drafting instrument used for drawing circles drafting instrument - an instrument used by a draftsman in making drawings | |
| Verb | 1. | compass - bring about; accomplish; "This writer attempts more than his talents can compass" archaicism, archaism - the use of an archaic expression |
| 2. | compass - travel around, either by plane or ship; "We compassed the earth" circle - travel around something; "circle the globe" | |
| 3. |  compass - get the meaning of something; "Do you comprehend the meaning of this letter?"understand - know and comprehend the nature or meaning of; "She did not understand her husband"; "I understand what she means" figure - understand; "He didn't figure her" catch on, cotton on, get it, get onto, get wise, twig, latch on, tumble - understand, usually after some initial difficulty; "She didn't know what her classmates were plotting but finally caught on" intuit - know or grasp by intuition or feeling digest - arrange and integrate in the mind; "I cannot digest all this information" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
compass
1noun
compass
2Compass points
Compass Point
| Abbreviation | |
|---|---|
| North | N |
| North by East | N by E |
| North North East | NNE |
| North East by North | NE by N |
| North East | NE |
| North East by East | NE by E |
| East North East | ENE |
| East by North | E by N |
| East | E |
| East by South | E by S |
| East South East | ESE |
| South East by East | SE by E |
| South East | SE |
| South East by South | SE by S |
| South South East | SSE |
| South by East | S by E |
| South | S |
| South by West | S by W |
| South South West | SSW |
| South West by South | SW by S |
| South West | SW |
| South West by West | SW by W |
| West South West | WSW |
| West by South | W by S |
| West | W |
| West by North | W by N |
| West North West | WNW |
| North West by West | NW by W |
| North West | NW |
| North West by North | NW by N |
| North North West | NNW |
| North by West | N by W |
Cardinal point
| Related adjective | |
|---|---|
| north | arctic or boreal |
| east | oriental |
| south | meridional or austral |
| west | occidental or hesperidan |
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
compass
noun1. A line around a closed figure or area:
1. To encircle with or as if with a band:
Archaic: engird.
2. To shut in on all sides:
3. To perceive and recognize the meaning of:
accept, apprehend, catch (on), comprehend, conceive, fathom, follow, get, grasp, make out, read, see, sense, take, take in, understand.
Informal: savvy.
Slang: dig.
Chiefly British: twig.
Scots: ken.
Idioms: get a handle on, get the picture.
4. To perceive directly with the intellect:
Scots: ken.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
بُوصُلَةبوصَلَه، إبْرَةُ الملاّحينفِرْجار، بِركارمَدى، نِطاق
компас
kompaskružítkookruhbuzoladosah
kompasområdepasserrækkevidderamme
kompaso
kompass
kompassiäänialaalaalue
busolakompas
iránytûiránytűkörzõ
kompas
áttavitisirkillsviî, takmörk
コンパス
나침반
kompasaskompaso rožėribosskriestuvas
apjomscirkulisdiapazonskompass
busolă
kompaskružidlo
kompasšestilo
kompass
เข็มทิศ
la bàn
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
compass
[ˈkʌmpəs] n (= extent, range) within the compass of → dans les limites de
beyond the compass of → hors de portée de, au-delà des limites de
beyond the compass of → hors de portée de, au-delà des limites de
(MATHEMATICS) = compasses
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
compass
n
compasses pl (also pair of compasses) → Zirkel m
compass
:compass bearing
n → Kompasspeilung f
compass card
n → Kompassscheibe f, → Windrose f
compass course
n → Navigationskurs m
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
compass
(ˈkampəs) noun.
1. an instrument with a magnetized needle, used to find directions. If he had carried a compass he would not have lost his way on the hills.
2. (in plural) an instrument with two movable legs, for drawing circles etc.
3. scope or range.
compass rose the circular drawing showing directions on a plan or map.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
compass
→ بُوصُلَة kompas kompas Kompass πυξίδα brújula kompassi boussole busola bussola コンパス 나침반 kompas kompass kompas bússola компас kompass เข็มทิศ pusula la bàn 罗盘Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009