From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcompactcom‧pact1 /kəmˈpækt, ˈkɒmpækt $ kəmˈpækt/ ●●○ adjective 1 SMALLsmall, but arranged so that everything fits neatly into the space available – used to show approval The compact design of the machine allows it to be stored easily. The students’ rooms were compact, with a desk, bed, and closet built in.► see thesaurus at small2 HARDpacked or put together firmly and closely The bushes grew in a compact mass.3 SMALLsmall, but solid and strong a short compact-looking man —compactly adverb —compactness noun [uncountable]
Examples from the Corpus
compact• The apartment was ideal for the two of us - small but compact.• Official sketches show a small warren of rooms, lit by artificial lights and stuffed with compact biological systems.• I feel certain the purpose of the slimness stems from the natural instinct to shoal in a compact body.• a compact car• The compact circuit, purpose-built with the betting shop service in mind, has surprised owners Ladbrokes with its robust evening trade.• There is a compact dining area, which feels cozy rather than cramped.• It made compact discs easier to display.• The Federals, on the other hand, could look forward to operating on compact interior lines of communication.• It packs all its power into a compact, low-profile configuration - occupying 30% less desk space than comparable 486 systems.• Look for plants with healthy leaves and a compact shape.• Plus the most significant restyling since the Cherokee debuted as a compact sport utility vehicle in 1984.• The PowerShot is a compact unit that weighs less than 11 ounces and fits easily in your pocket.• The dormitory rooms are very compact, with a desk, bed, and closet built in.• It was similar to an indoor meeting because the stadium is compact, with the crowd close to all the action.compactcom‧pact2 /ˈkɒmpækt $ ˈkɑːm-/ noun [countable] 1 DCBa small flat container with a mirror, containing powder for a woman’s face2 a compact camera3 American EnglishTTC a small car4 formalAGREE an agreement between countries or people A compact was negotiated between the company and the union.Examples from the Corpus
compact• a two-door compact• One tribe, the Hualapai, closed its casino last year but still has a gaming compact.• Opening her compact, she checked her appearance, and dabbed at her hair.• Claudel stooped, too, and was startled to see her brush a powder compact sideways, sending it under the cab.• So beware the curved top compacts.compactcom‧pact3 /kəmˈpækt/ verb [transitive] PRESSto press something together so that it becomes smaller or more solid compacted earth→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
compact• It was compacted again and loaded into a trailer hauling 25 tons to the landfill.• The dirt trail has been compacted from years of use.• It compacts my spine, and yellow spots dance before my eyes.• Progressively increase the pressure to compact the surface.• It then swells-for the nuclear material is highly compacted within the sperm-and so becomes a pronucleus.Origin compact1 (1300-1400) Latin compactus, past participle of compingere “to put together”, from com- ( → COM-) + pangere “to fasten” compact2 1. (1900-2000) → COMPACT1 2. (1500-1600) Latin compactum, from compacisci “to make an agreement”, from com- ( → COM-) + pacisci “to contract” 