compile

[ kuhm-pahyl ]

verb (used with object)

, com·piled, com·pil·ing.

1. to put together (documents, selections, or other materials) in one book or work.
2. to make (a book, writing, or the like) of materials from various sources:

   to compile an anthology of plays; to compile a graph showing changes in profit.

3. to gather together:

   to compile data.

4. Computers. to translate (a computer program) from a high-level language into another language, usually machine language, using a compiler.

compile

/ kəmˈpaɪl /

verb

1. to make or compose from other materials or sources

   to compile a list of names

2. to collect or gather for a book, hobby, etc
3. computing to create (a set of machine instructions) from a high-level programming language, using a compiler

Other Words From

• precom·pile verb (used with object) precompiled precompiling
• recom·pile verb (used with object) recompiled recompiling
• uncom·piled adjective
• well-com·piled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of compile¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Latin compīlāre “to rob, pillage, steal from another writer,” equivalent to com- “with” + -pīlāre, perhaps akin to pīla “column, pier,” pīlāre “to fix firmly, plant” (hence, “pile up, accumulate”); com-, pile ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of compile¹

C14: from Latin compīlāre to pile together, plunder, from com- together + pīlāre to thrust down, pack

Example Sentences

Like we did in 2018, FiveThirtyEight has been compiling a wealth of information, including gender, for every major-party candidate for Senate, House and governor this year.

From FiveThirtyEight

People in Hong Kong are fearful their data will be compiled by Beijing, too.

From Fortune

Having secured the purchase of two national chains within the space of a week, Simon is estimated to part own approximately 400 stores in its own properties, according to data compiled by Green Street Advisors before the pandemic.

From Ozy

The system was first used to compile health statistics by the City of Baltimore, the US Office of the Surgeon General, and the New York Health Department—all opportunities probably secured with the help of Billings.

From MIT Technology Review

To that end, the team is looking forth to compile an entire 3D data set and workflow that would be made accessible to other researchers and students, for a more concerted effort on the future projects involving the grandeur of Pompeii.

From Realm of History

Winnowing down countless artifacts to compile A History of New York in 101 Objects was challenging enough.

From The Daily Beast

One spokesperson even worked late into the night to compile statistics related to Peace Corps safety.

From The Daily Beast

Indeed, Warmuth eventually would compile a list of Jack London appropriations in Chronicles that ran 12 pages long.

From The Daily Beast

We would before Christmas compile a thick book of readings for him.

From The Daily Beast

But I'm willing to bet that when I compile my Top Ten list next December, True Detective will still reign supreme.

From The Daily Beast

To support those statements with adequate evidence I should have to compile a book four times as large as the present volume.

From Project Gutenberg

Not quite, if I may judge from such tables of comparative speed as I am able to compile from memories of my own experience.

From Project Gutenberg

No attempt has ever been made to compile a bibliography of selenium organic compounds.

From Project Gutenberg

Some idea, then, may be formed of the vast amount of labor and expense necessary to compile a work of this character.

From Project Gutenberg

Why doesn't some patient drudge of a privat dozent compile a dictionary of the stable-names of the great?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• amass
• arrange
• assemble
• collect
• compose
• cull
• edit
• gather
• glean
• organize