Meaning of the word compounds in English
What does compounds mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.
compounds
US /ˈkɑm.paʊndz/
UK /ˈkɒm.paʊndz/
Noun
1.
a thing that is composed of two or more separate elements; a mixture
Example:
•
Water is a chemical compound of hydrogen and oxygen.
•
The new drug is a complex compound of several active ingredients.
2.
a word made up of two or more existing words
Example:
•
The word 'sunflower' is a compound of 'sun' and 'flower'.
•
Many English words are compounds, like 'keyboard' or 'blackboard'.
3.
an enclosed area of land with a group of buildings
Example:
•
The factory was located within a large industrial compound.
•
The prisoners were confined to the prison compound.
Verb
1.
make (something bad) worse; intensify the negative aspects of
Example:
•
His silence only served to compound her fears.
•
The problem was compounded by a lack of communication.
2.
add interest to (a principal sum) as well as to the accumulated interest of previous periods
Example:
•
Interest is compounded annually.
•
The investment will compound over time, leading to significant growth.
Adjective
made up of two or more elements or parts
Example:
•
A compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses.
•
The new material is a compound mixture of plastic and metal.