compile

[kuhm-pahyl]

verb (used with object)

compiled, compiling 

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 Word Forms

• precompile verb (used with object)
• recompile verb (used with object)
• uncompiled adjective
• well-compiled 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

Some economic data, such as last month’s unemployment rate and consumer-inflation numbers, can’t be compiled retroactively, the Labor Department has said, because they rely on contemporaneous surveys.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

UC said it has not compiled a public report of more recent data.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Ms Inman Grant also said on Friday that Pinterest, where users compile online notice boards of images, would not be included in the ban because its core purpose was not about online social interaction.

Read more on BBC

That beat an advance estimate of 2.9% growth compiled in October and compared with the revised 4.7% pace set in the second quarter.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A UC report compiled over the summer found that instructional spending per student has decreased when compared with levels two decades ago.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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