compass
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compass¹
- /ˈkʌm.pəs/
- [ˈkɐm.pəs]
Where it comes from
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.
noun compasses
-
A magnetic or electronic device used to determine the cardinal directions (usually magnetic or true north).
[H]ow many Seas to our fore-fathers impaſſable, for want of the Compaſſe?
Similar: magnetic compass
- A pair of compasses (a device used to draw circular arcs and transfer length measurements). to fix one foot of their compass wherever they please
- The range of notes of a musical instrument or voice. You would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass.
- A space within limits; an area. 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.
- An enclosing limit; a boundary, a circumference. within the compass of an encircling wall
- Moderate bounds, limits of truth; moderation; due limits; used with within. In two hundred years before (I speak within compass), no such commission had been executed.
-
Synonym of scope.
the compass of his argument
Similar: scope
- Range, reach. Lou's not Times foole, though roſie lips and cheeks VVithin his bending ſickles compaſſe come, Loue alters not with his breefe houres and vveekes, But beares it out euen to the edge of doome: If this be error and vpon me proued, I neuer vvrit, nor no man euer loued.
- A passing round; circuit; circuitous course. This day I breathed first; time is come round, / And where I did begin, there shall I end; / My life is run his compass.
- A curved circular form.
Similar: pair of compasses
compass²
- /ˈkʌm.pəs/
- [ˈkɐm.pəs]
Where it comes from
From Middle English compassen (“to go around, make a circuit, draw a circle, contrive, intend”), from Old French compasser; from the noun; see compass as a noun.
verb compasses · compassing · compassed
- To surround; to encircle; to environ; to stretch round. Now all the blessings Of a glad father compass thee about!
- To go about or round entirely; to traverse. So she goeth around the hill compassing.
- To accomplish; to reach; to achieve; to obtain. […] tho' theſe ſeem'd to be very unfit Inſtruments for compaſſing of that great Deſign for which they were then employ'd, becauſe of their Inability and Uncapacity in performing the Work ſo very great and important; […]
- To plot; to scheme (against someone). That he plotted and compassed to raise Sedition and Rebellion [...]
adverb more compass · most compass
- In a circuit; round about. [T]he Towne is impailed about halfe a mile compaſſe.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: orbit, range, dig, circumnavigate, ambit, scope, comprehend, reach, grasp, apprehend, savvy, north, direction, benchmark, orientation, guide
noun
Similar: pair of compasses
Translations
Every language
noun instrument to determine cardinal directions
| Español | brújula, aguja de marear, aguja de bitácora |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 나침반 nachimban |
| 日本語 | 方位磁石 hōijishaku, 羅針盤 rashinban, コンパス konpasu, 方位磁針 hōijishin |
| 中文 | 指南針 /指南针 zhǐnánzhēn, 指北針 /指北针 zhǐběizhēn, 羅盤 /罗盘 luópán, 指南 zhǐnán, 南針 /南针 nánzhēn |
| हिन्दी | क़ुतुबनुमा qutubnumā, दिक्सूचक diksūcak, कंपास kampās |
| Kiswahili | dira |
| Português | bússola |
| Français | boussole |
| Deutsch | Kompass, Seekompass, Bussole |
| Italiano | bussola |
| Ελληνικά | πυξίδα pyxída |
| Română | busolă, compas |
| Русский | ко́мпас kómpas, буссо́ль bussólʹ, компа́с kompás |
| Tiếng Việt | la bàn |
| العربية | بُوصُّلَة būṣṣula |
| עברית | מַצְפֵּן matspén |
noun range of notes of a musical instrument or voice
| Français | ambitus |
|---|---|
| Ελληνικά | διαπασών diapasón |
| Română | diapazon |
| Русский | диапазо́н diapazón |
noun area
| Español | área, ámbito, alcance |
|---|---|
| Português | área, âmbito, alcance |
| Français | portée, étendue |
| Deutsch | Umfang, Umkreis |
| Ελληνικά | φάσμα fásma |
| Русский | объём obʺjóm, круг krug, окру́жность okrúžnostʹ |
verb surround
| Русский | охва́тывать oxvátyvatʹ, охвати́ть oxvatítʹ, окружа́ть okružátʹ, окружить okružitʹ |
|---|
Talk about this word "compass." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/compass. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. compass. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/compass "compass." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/compass.Cite this
@misc{compass_2026,
title = {compass},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/compass},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
