Compound: meaning, definitions and examples

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compound

 

[ ˈkɑmpaʊnd ]

Context #1 | Noun

chemical

A substance formed by the chemical combination of two or more elements in definite proportions and usually having properties different from those of its constituent elements.

Synonyms

blend, composite, mixture

Examples of usage

  • The formation of a compound involves a chemical reaction.
  • Water, salt, and sugar are examples of compounds.
  • In chemistry, compounds are classified into different categories based on their molecular structure.
Context #2 | Noun

linguistics

A word made up of two or more smaller words or word elements.

Synonyms

composite word, phrasal compound

Examples of usage

  • The word 'blackboard' is a compound word.
  • In English, compounds are often formed by combining nouns.
  • Some languages have more complex rules for creating compounds.
Context #3 | Verb

to make up a compound

To combine or mix together to form a whole.

Synonyms

blend, combine, mix

Examples of usage

  • She compounds various herbs to create a healing potion.
  • The chef compounded different flavors to make a unique dish.

Translations

Translations of the word "compound" in other languages:

🇵🇹 composto

🇮🇳 यौगिक

🇩🇪 Verbindung

🇮🇩 senyawa

🇺🇦 сполука

🇵🇱 związek

🇯🇵 化合物 (kagōbutsu)

🇫🇷 composé

🇪🇸 compuesto

🇹🇷 bileşik

🇰🇷 화합물 (hwahabmul)

🇸🇦 مركب (murakkab)

🇨🇿 sloučenina

🇸🇰 zlúčenina

🇨🇳 化合物 (huàhéwù)

🇸🇮 spojina

🇮🇸 efnasamband

🇰🇿 қосылыс

🇬🇪 შედგენა (shedegna)

🇦🇿 birləşmə

🇲🇽 compuesto

Etymology

The word 'compound' originated from the Latin word 'componere', which means 'to put together'. The concept of compounds has been essential in both chemistry and linguistics, representing the merging of elements to form something new and distinct. The understanding and study of compounds have played a crucial role in the development of various scientific and linguistic fields.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,748, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.