Longman Dictionary English

Explore Compounds Topic Show all entries from Topic: Compounds
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Related topics: Compounds, Buildings, Grammar, Linguistics
compoundcom‧pound1 /ˈkɒmpaʊnd $ ˈkɑːm-/ ●●○ AWL noun [countable] 1 HCC technical a substance containing atoms from two or more elements → element man-made organic compoundscompound of Sulphur dioxide is a compound of sulphur and oxygen.2 MIXa combination of two or more parts, substances, or qualitiescompound of Teaching is a compound of several different skills. Brush on a damp-proofing compound.3 TBBan area that contains a group of buildings and is surrounded by a fence or wall a prison compound4 SLG technical a noun, adjective etc that is made up of two or more words. The noun ‘flower shop’ and the adjective ‘self-made’ are compounds.COLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + compoundan organic compound (=containing carbon)the organic compounds of which living things are madean inorganic compound (=not containing carbon)a chemical compound (=formed by a chemical process involving two or more elements)a carbon/nitrogen/sulphur etc compoundUse a copper compound to protect the trees from pests.a toxic/dangerous compound (=containing poisonous or harmful substances)toxic compounds such as heavy metalsverbsform a compoundAtoms combine in specific ways to form chemical compounds.a compound contains somethingThis compound contains two atoms of nitrogen and four atoms of hydrogen.
Examples from the Corpus
compound• The second way was to find a compound which would compete for or block the inactivating enzyme.• Sulfur dioxide is a compound of sulfur and oxygen.• Freebase is a compound that can be inhaled or smoked.• The Special Forces adviser compound in Pleiku had showers.• A binary compound contains two elements.• Sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide are two common chemical compounds.• Marines protect the U.S. Embassy compound.• Then cover the filler wood with a thin layer of joint compound and paper joint-compound tape.• Seal all wall joints with joint compound and tape.• The soil was tested to make sure that it was free from ammonia or any other nitrogen compound.• an organic compound• She knew the meeting place; the pool in the little park on the south side of the palace compound.• It is probably very rare for consciousness to scan every component of a particular compound of limitation.• The upshot: A decade later, this compound and some other persistent pesticides were banished.
Related topics: Finance
compoundcom‧pound2 /kəmˈpaʊnd/ AWL verb [transitive] 1 WORSEto make a difficult situation worse by adding more problemscompound a problem/difficulty etc Helmut’s problems were compounded by his lack of concentration.2 British English to make a bad action worse by doing more bad thingscompound a crime/an offence etc He compounded the offence by calling his opponents liars.3 → be compounded of something4 American EnglishBF to pay interest that is calculated on both the sum of money and the interest Interest is compounded quarterly.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
compound• Scientists are able to compound an increasing number of substances to produce new drugs.• The country's economic woes were compounded by a seven-year civil war.• Brian was lost in booze and drugs, compounded by paranoia and a deep sense of failure.• This is compounded by point 2 to 4 following. 2.• The effects of the East Coast snows this year were compounded by severe storms in the spring.• John and Val's domestic problems were compounded by stress at work.• Suspicions raised by the Whitewater deal are compounded by two other events.• My bank compounds interest quarterly.• It is rather as a precaution against compounding one media mistake with another.• Strong nationalist sentiment is compounding the deep political problems faced by the President.• But in this case, the director of field operations, abetted by other headquarters personnel, compounded the problem.• Mr Singh's letter compounded this.compoundcom‧pound3 /ˈkɒmpaʊnd $ ˈkɑːm-/ AWL adjective technical 1 → compound eye/leaf etc2 → compound noun/adjective etc3 → compound sentence
Examples from the Corpus
compound• First, insects have compound eyes consisting of up to several thousand optical units called ommatidia, each with a single lens.• The present-value formula may be derived directly from the compound interest formula.• But the precise figure would be 10.7 per cent because of the effect of compound interest.From Longman Business Dictionarycompoundcom‧pound /kəmˈpaʊndkɑːmˈpaʊnd, ˈkɑːmpaʊnd/ verb [transitive] American English FINANCE to pay interest on both a sum of money and the interest already earned on itMy bank compounds interest quarterly.→ See Verb tableOrigin compound1 1. (1500-1600) → COMPOUND32. (1600-1700) Malay kampong “group of buildings, village” compound2 (1500-1600) Old French compondre, from Latin componere, from com- ( → COM-) + ponere “to put” compound3 (1400-1500) Past participle of compoun “to compound” ((14-17 centuries)), from Old French componre, from Latin componere; → COMPOUND2
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