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

A planning report previously compiled in support of the application described the current children's unit as in "serious need of a major enhancement and modernisation".

From BBC

He compiles his own extensive data rather than rely on less complete stats that might be available.

From BBC

Carroll's significance was later highlighted in court when it emerged detectives investigating the shooting had compiled a list of 99 potential suspects.

From BBC

The initial numbers, compiled by analytics firm Nielsen, will likely increase over the coming days as more data is collected.

From BBC

Ms Haggerty-James said the material had been compiled to "capture their offending behaviour".

From BBC

Related Words

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