com·pass (k m p s, k m-)n. 1. a. A device used to determine geographic direction, usually consisting of a magnetic needle or needles horizontally mounted or suspended and free to pivot until aligned with the earth's magnetic field. b. Another device, such as a radio compass or a gyrocompass, used for determining geographic direction. 2. A V-shaped device for describing circles or circular arcs and for taking measurements, consisting of a pair of rigid, end-hinged legs, one of which is equipped with a pen, pencil, or other marker and the other with a sharp point providing a pivot about which the drawing leg is turned. Also called pair of compasses. 3. a. An enclosing line or boundary; a circumference: outside the compass of the fence. See Synonyms at circumference. b. A restricted space or area: four huge crates within the compass of the elevator. c. Range or scope, as of understanding, perception, or authority: "Lacking a coherent intellectual and moral commitment, [he] was forced to find his compass in personal experience" (Doris Kearns Goodwin). See Synonyms at range. 4. Music See range. tr.v. com·passed, com·pass·ing, com·pass·es 1. To make a circuit of; circle: The sailboat compassed the island. 2. To surround; encircle. See Synonyms at surround. 3. To understand; comprehend. 4. To succeed in carrying out; accomplish. See Synonyms at reach. 5. To scheme; plot. adj. 1. Forming a curved configuration. 2. Semicircular. Used of bow windows. [Middle English compas, circle, compass, from Old French, from compasser, to measure, from Vulgar Latin *compass  re, to pace off : Latin com-, com- + Latin passus, step; see pace1.]com pass·a·ble adj. |
compass [ˈkʌmpəs]
n
1. an instrument for finding direction, usually having a magnetized needle which points to magnetic north swinging freely on a pivot
2. (Mathematics) (often plural) Also called pair of compasses an instrument used for drawing circles, measuring distances, etc., that consists of two arms, joined at one end, one arm of which serves as a pivot or stationary reference point, while the other is extended or describes a circle
3. limits or range within the compass of education
4. (Music, other) Music the interval between the lowest and highest note attainable by a voice or musical instrument
5. Archaic a circular course
vb (tr)
1. to encircle or surround; hem in
2. to comprehend or grasp mentally
3. to achieve; attain; accomplish
4. Obsolete to plot
[from Old French compas, from compasser to measure, from Vulgar Latin compassāre (unattested) to pace out, ultimately from Latin passus step]
compassable adj
| compass (kmps) 1. A device used to determine geographical direction, usually consisting of a magnetic needle mounted on a pivot, aligning itself naturally with the Earth's magnetic field so that it points to the Earth's geomagnetic north or south pole. 2. A device used for drawing circles and arcs and for measuring distances on maps, consisting of two legs hinged together at one end. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  compass - navigational instrument for finding directionsgyrocompass - a compass that does not depend on magnetism but uses a gyroscope instead magnetic compass - compass based on an indicator (as a magnetic needle) that points to the magnetic north navigational instrument - an instrument used for navigating |
| 2. | compass - an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"; "a piano has a greater range than the human voice"; "the ambit of municipal legislation"; "within the compass of this article"; "within the scope of an investigation"; "outside the reach of the law"; "in the political orbit of a world power" extent - the distance or area or volume over which something extends; "the vast extent of the desert"; "an orchard of considerable extent" approximate range, ballpark - near to the scope or range of something; "his answer wasn't even in the right ballpark" confines - a bounded scope; "he stayed within the confines of the city" contrast - the range of optical density and tone on a photographic negative or print (or the extent to which adjacent areas on a television screen differ in brightness) internationality, internationalism - quality of being international in scope; "he applauded the internationality of scientific terminology" latitude - scope for freedom of e.g. action or thought; freedom from restriction purview, horizon, view - the range of interest or activity that can be anticipated; "It is beyond the horizon of present knowledge" gamut - a complete extent or range: "a face that expressed a gamut of emotions" spectrum - a broad range of related objects or values or qualities or ideas or activities | |
| 3. | compass - the limit of capability; "within the compass of education" | |
| 4. | compass - drafting instrument used for drawing circles drafting instrument - an instrument used by a draftsman in making drawings | |
| Verb | 1. | compass - bring about; accomplish; "This writer attempts more than his talents can compass" archaicism, archaism - the use of an archaic expression |
| 2. | compass - travel around, either by plane or ship; "We compassed the earth" circle - travel around something; "circle the globe" | |
| 3. |  compass - get the meaning of something; "Do you comprehend the meaning of this letter?"understand - know and comprehend the nature or meaning of; "She did not understand her husband"; "I understand what she means" figure - understand; "He didn't figure her" catch on, cotton on, get it, get onto, get wise, twig, latch on, tumble - understand, usually after some initial difficulty; "She didn't know what her classmates were plotting but finally caught on" intuit - know or grasp by intuition or feeling digest - arrange and integrate in the mind; "I cannot digest all this information" |
compass1
noun
compass2
Compass points
Compass Point
| Abbreviation | |
|---|---|
| North | N |
| North by East | N by E |
| North North East | NNE |
| North East by North | NE by N |
| North East | NE |
| North East by East | NE by E |
| East North East | ENE |
| East by North | E by N |
| East | E |
| East by South | E by S |
| East South East | ESE |
| South East by East | SE by E |
| South East | SE |
| South East by South | SE by S |
| South South East | SSE |
| South by East | S by E |
| South | S |
| South by West | S by W |
| South South West | SSW |
| South West by South | SW by S |
| South West | SW |
| South West by West | SW by W |
| West South West | WSW |
| West by South | W by S |
| West | W |
| West by North | W by N |
| West North West | WNW |
| North West by West | NW by W |
| North West | NW |
| North West by North | NW by N |
| North North West | NNW |
| North by West | N by W |
Cardinal point
| Related adjective | |
|---|---|
| north | arctic or boreal |
| east | oriental |
| south | meridional or austral |
| west | occidental or hesperidan |
Translations
compass [ˈkʌmpəs] n
(= extent, range) within the compass of → dans les limites de
beyond the compass of → hors de portée de, au-delà des limites de
beyond the compass of → hors de portée de, au-delà des limites de
(MATHEMATICS) = compasses
compass
compass:
n
compasses pl (also pair of compasses) → Zirkel m
compass:
compass bearing
n → Kompasspeilung f
compass card
n → Kompassscheibe f, → Windrose f
compass course
n → Navigationskurs m
compass [ˈkʌmpəs] n
compass [ˈkʌmpəs] n
a. (Naut) → bussola
b. (Math) (a pair of) compasses → un compasso
compass [ˈkʌmpəs] n
a. (Naut) → bussola
b. (Math) (a pair of) compasses → un compasso
noun
1 an instrument with a magnetized needle, used to find directions If he had carried a compass he would not have lost his way on the hills. kompas بوصَلَه، إبْرَةُ الملاّحين компас kompas kompas der Kompaß πυξίδα brújula kompass قطب نما kompassi boussole מַצְפֶּן कम्पास, कुतुबनुमा kompas, busola iránytű kompas áttaviti bussola 羅針盤 나침반 kompasas kompass kompas kompas kompass kompas bússola busolă компас kompas kompas kompas kompass เข็มทิศ pusula 羅盤，指南針 компас قطب نما la bàn 罗盘
2 (in plural) an instrument with two movable legs, for drawing circles etc. kompas فِرْجار، بِركار пергел kružítko passer der Zirkel διαβήτης compás sirkel پرگار harppi compas מְחוֹגָה परकार, वृत्त बनाने के लिए ज्यामीति का एक यंत्र šestar, šestilo körző jangka sirkill compasso コンパス 컴퍼스 skriestuvas cirkulis kompas passer passer cyrkiel compasso compas циркуль kružidlo šestilo šestar passare วงเวียน pergel 圓規 циркуль پُرکار compa 圆规
3 scope or range. omvang; bestek مَدى، نِطاق диапазон okruh, dosah område; ramme; rækkevidde der Umkreis έκταση alcance ulatus محدوده؛ گستره piiri portée, étendue תְחוּם दायरा opseg, doseg kiterjedés jangkauan svið, takmörk ambito, competenza 範囲 범위 apimtis, ribos diapazons; apjoms lingkungan bereik rekkevidde, omkrets zasięg alcance cuprins, întindere предел; диапазон okruh doseg, obseg raspon omfång, område ขอบเขต alan, saha 界限，範圍 обсяг; діапазон دسائی ، پہنچ phạm vi 界限
compass rose
the circular drawing showing directions on a plan or map. windroos, kompasroos صورَة دائِرَة الأتِّجاهات геогр. показател směrová růžice kompasu kompasrose die Kompaßrose κυκλικά σχήματα σε χάρτη που δείχνουν κατευθύνσεις rosa de los vientos tuulteroos علامتی که برای مشخص کردن نقطه ای روی نقشه می کشند kompassiruusu rose des vents שוֹשָנַת הָרוּחוֹת नक्शा ruža kompasa szélrózsa mata angin áttavitarós rosa della bussola 羅針図 나침도 kompaso rožė debespušu norāde (uz kartes) arah kompas kompasroos kompassrose róża wiatrów rosa-dos-ventos roza vânturilor картушка компаса smerová ružica vetrovnica ruža kompasa kompassros เครื่องหมายบอกทิศทางในแผนที่ harita üzerindeki pusula dairesi 地圖上的羅盤玫瑰 компасна роза نقشے پر سمتیں بتانے والی علامت vòng tròn định hướng trên bản đồ 表示方向的图案
compass → بوصلة kompas kompas Kompass πυξίδα brújula kompassi boussole busola bussola コンパス 나침반 kompas kompass kompas bússola компас kompass วงเวียน pusula la bàn 罗盘
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