compound

A substance made by joining two or more different substances or chemical elements.

• Water is a chemical compound.
• This compound contains carbon and oxygen.
• Scientists tested several compounds in the laboratory.

How to use it: compound of something (Water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen.)

Common phrases: chemical compound, organic compound, compound of something

A group of buildings in one area, often surrounded by a wall or fence.

• Guards stood outside the compound.
• Several families lived in the walled compound.
• Visitors must show identification before entering the military compound.

Similar words: complex

Common phrases: military compound, prison compound, inside the compound

A mixture of different things joined together.

• The music is a compound of several styles.
• His mood was a strange compound of fear and hope.
• Their culture became a compound of old and new traditions.

How to use it: compound of A and B (Her reaction was a compound of surprise and relief.)

Similar words: mixture, blend, combination

Common phrases: compound of something, strange compound, complex compound

Made of two or more parts joined together.

• Toothbrush is a compound word.
• This compound sentence has two main parts.
• The teacher asked us to identify the compound nouns.

Similar words: combined, composite

Opposites: simple

Common phrases: compound word, compound sentence, compound noun

Involving calculations with different units or several linked steps.

• The textbook explains compound addition.
• We used compound subtraction with pounds and ounces.
• Compound arithmetic lets you calculate with feet and inches.

Opposites: simple

Common phrases: compound addition, compound subtraction, compound arithmetic

To make a problem worse by adding another difficulty.

• His rude reply compounded the problem.
• The shortage was compounded by delivery delays.
• Do not compound your mistake by lying about it.

How to use it: compound something (The delay compounded our problems.); be compounded by something (Our difficulties were compounded by heavy rain.)

Similar words: worsen, aggravate, exacerbate

Opposites: ease

Common phrases: compound the problem, compound someone’s misery

To calculate interest on both the original money and the interest already added.

• The bank compounds interest every month.
• Your savings grow faster when interest is compounded daily.
• This account compounds the interest annually.

Common phrases: compound interest, compound annually, compound monthly

To make a mixture by combining different ingredients or parts.

• The pharmacist compounded an ointment.
• They compound medicines for patients with special needs.
• This cream was compounded from three ingredients.

How to use it: compound something from something (The pharmacist compounded a cream from several ingredients.)

Similar words: mix, blend

Common phrases: compound a medicine, compound an ointment