compass

[ kuhm-puhs ]

noun

1. an instrument for determining directions, as by means of a freely rotating magnetized needle that indicates magnetic north.
2. the enclosing line or limits of any area; perimeter:

   You can find anything you want downtown within the compass of ten square blocks.

3. space within limits; area; extent; range; scope: the broad compass of the novel.

   the narrow compass of the strait;

   the broad compass of the novel.

4. Also called range. the total range of tones of a voice or of a musical instrument.
5. due or proper limits; moderate bounds:

   Their behavior stayed within the compass of propriety.

6. a passing round; circuit:

   the compass of a year.

7. Often compasses. an instrument for drawing or describing circles, measuring distances, etc., consisting generally of two movable, rigid legs hinged to each other at one end (usually used with pair of ):

   to spread the legs of a compass and draw a larger circle.

8. Astronomy.
   1. Compass. Also called Mar·i·ner's Com·pass [mar, -, uh, -nerz , kuhm, -p, uh, s]. the constellation Pyxis.
   2. Compasses, the constellation Circinus.

adjective

1. curved; forming a curve or arc: compass roof.

   a compass timber;

   compass roof.

verb (used with object)

1. to go or move round; make the circuit of:

   It would take a week to compass his property on foot.

2. to extend or stretch around; hem in; surround; encircle:

   An old stone wall compasses their property.

3. to attain or achieve; accomplish; obtain:

   To have compassed this task in the limited time available is no mean achievement.

4. to contrive; plot; scheme:

   to compass a treacherous plan.

5. to make curved or circular.
6. to comprehend; to grasp, as with the mind:

   His mind could not compass the extent of the disaster.

compass

/ ˈkʌmpəs /

noun

1. an instrument for finding direction, usually having a magnetized needle which points to magnetic north swinging freely on a pivot
2. Also calledpair of compasses often plural 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 the interval between the lowest and highest note attainable by a voice or musical instrument
5. archaic.
   a circular course

verb

1. to encircle or surround; hem in
2. to comprehend or grasp mentally
3. to achieve; attain; accomplish
4. obsolete.
   to plot

compass

/ kŭm′pəs /

1. A device used to determine geographical direction, usually consisting of a magnetic needle mounted on a pivot, aligning itself naturally with the Earth's magnetic field so that it points to the Earth's geomagnetic north or south pole.
2. A device used for drawing circles and arcs and for measuring distances on maps, consisting of two legs hinged together at one end.

Derived Forms

• ˈcompassable, adjective

Other Words From

• com·pass·a·ble adjective
• com·pass·less adjective
• out·com·pass verb (used with object)
• pre·com·pass verb (used with object) noun
• un·com·pass·a·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of compass¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; (verb) Middle English compassen, from Old French compasser “to measure,” from unattested Vulgar Latin compāssāre, equivalent to compāss(us), “equal step” ( Latin com- com- + pāssus pace ¹ ) + -āre verb suffix; (noun) Middle English compas, from Old French, derivative of compasser

Word History and Origins

Origin of compass¹

C13: from Old French compas, from compasser to measure, from Vulgar Latin compassāre (unattested) to pace out, ultimately from Latin passus step

Synonym Study

See range.

Example Sentences

I fundamentally feel that the Gallaudet Board of Trustees has lost its way and its moral compass.

From Washington Post

It also includes a compass and flashlight, so it makes getting lost almost impossible.

From Popular-Science

Under Tomé’s watch, the shipping giant is resetting its compass and choosing its path with care.

From Fortune

Using just a depth-sensing camera, GPS, and compass data, it learned to enter a space much as a human would, and find the shortest possible path to its destination without wrong turns, backtracking, or exploration.

From MIT Technology Review

While this “rectangular peg problem” seems like the kind of question a high school geometry student might settle with a ruler and compass, it has resisted mathematicians’ best efforts for decades.

From Quanta Magazine

Muscovites call their favorite station “Ukho Moskvy” (Ear of Moscow) and see it as an institution, a compass for society.

From The Daily Beast

He repeated it again, slowly: “He has no values…He has no moral compass whatsoever.”

From The Daily Beast

It radiates her inner light and compass, her disregard for status quo.

From The Daily Beast

He goes on to compass the very nature of memory by way of considering how we memorialize mass death.

From The Daily Beast

Boyd does have a moral compass—not yours or mine—but he does have one.

From The Daily Beast

She habitually ate chocolates for their sustaining quality; they contained much nutriment in small compass, she said.

From Project Gutenberg

The manual compass on these organs seldom extended higher than f2 or g3, though it often went down to GG.

From Project Gutenberg

Later it was extended to F, 30 notes, which is the compass generally found in England.

From Project Gutenberg

This was the point of compass revealed by the astrologer as most favourable to the young candidate for manly honours.

From Project Gutenberg

With the exception of the Celestes, which go down to FF only, every stop is complete, of full compass.

From Project Gutenberg