compass (ˈkʌmpəs
)
Definitions
noun
- an instrument for finding direction, usually having a magnetized needle which points to magnetic north swinging freely on a pivot
- Also called
pair of compasses (often plural) 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 - limits or range ⇒
within the compass of education
- music the interval between the lowest and highest note attainable by a voice or musical instrument
- archaic a circular course
verb (tr)
- to encircle or surround; hem in
- to comprehend or grasp mentally
- to achieve; attain; accomplish
- obsolete to plot
Alternative Forms
ˈcompassable adjectiveWord Origin
C13: from Old French compas, from compasser to measure, from Vulgar Latin compassāre (unattested) to pace out, ultimately from Latin passus stepTranslations
- British English:
compass
A compass is an instrument that you use for finding directions. It has a dial and a magnetic needle that always points to the north.We had to use a compass to get here.ˈkʌmpəs NOUN We had to use a compass to get here.
- Spanish:
brújula
nf
- French:
boussole
nf
- German:
Kompass
nm
- Chinese: 罗盘 n
- Arabic: بُوصُلَة n
- Portuguese: bússola nf
- Russian: компас nm
- Croatian: busola nf
- Czech: kompas nm
- Danish: kompas nnt
- Dutch: kompas nnt
- Finnish: kompassi n
- Greek: πυξίδα nf
- Italian: bussola nf
- Japanese: コンパス n
- Korean: 나침반 n
- Norwegian: kompass nnt
- Polish: kompas nm
- Brazilian Portuguese: bússola nf
- European Spanish:
brújula
nf
- Swedish: kompass nutr
- Thai: วงเวียน n
- Turkish: pusula n
- Vietnamese: la bàn n
Usage examples
Getting her bearings from the compass on the cross tube in front of her, Sabrina started out towards the island.
, Code Breaker (1993)With a deeply reefed main we set our course across the Solent, practising taking compass bearings on the way.
Yachting Boating World (2004)The church was once the moral compass - today the courts have assumed that role (with the compliance of some religions).
Toronto Sun (2003)He's not just in a brilliant band, there's a moral compass there.
Sun, News of the World (2004)At this point we need to look at the Chinese compass itself, now examining the smaller divisions of the `box".
, Chinese Astrology (1987)