Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

compass

/ˈkʌm.pəs/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.74 in modern English

Syllables: com-pass
IPA: /ˈkʌm.pəs/

13

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A magnetic or electronic device used to determine the cardinal directions (usually magnetic or true north).

noun

A pair of compasses (a device used to draw circular arcs and transfer length measurements).

noun

The range of notes of a musical instrument or voice.

noun

A space within limits; an area.

Obsolete

noun

An enclosing limit; a boundary, a circumference.

Obsolete

noun

Moderate bounds, limits of truth; moderation; due limits; used with within.

noun

Synonym of scope.

Formal

noun

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"[H]ow many Seas to our fore-fathers impaſſable, for want of the Compaſſe?"
"1689/1690, John Locke, On improvement of understanding He that […] first discovered the use of the compass […] did more for the propagation of knowledge […] than those who built workhouses."
"a glance at his compass would have shown him that a northerly course instead of an easterly could not be right"
"to fix one foot of their compass wherever they please"
"You would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass."
"In going up the Missisippi ^([sic]), we meet with nothing remarkable before we come to the Detour aux Anglois, the English Reach: in that part the river takes a large compass."

Etymology

From Middle English compas (“a circle, circuit, limit, form, a mathematical instrument”), from Old French compas, from Medieval Latin compassus (“a circle, a circuit”), from Latin com- (“together”) + passus (“a pace, step, later a pass, way, route”); see pass, pace.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: compas, compassus, com-, compassen, compasser

Usage

Inflected Forms

compasses (plural) compasses (present, singular) compassing (participle, present) compassed (participle, past) compassed (past) more compass (comparative) most compass (superlative)

Derived Forms

astrocompass biocompass compassless gyrocompass accompass compassable encompass incompass outcompass

Phrases

all points of the compass beam compass bow compass box the compass Brunton compass cabin compass Chinese compass color compass

Synonyms

scope magnetic compass pair of compasses encircle environ surround cover traverse accomplish achieve attain gain

Rhymes With

encompass

Questions

How do you pronounce compass?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈkʌm.pəs/.
What does compass mean?: A magnetic or electronic device used to determine the cardinal directions (usually magnetic or true north).
Where does compass come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce compass

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “compass”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈkʌm.pəs/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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