Compass — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun adjective /ˈkəm-pəs/ com·pass

Meaning & Definition of Compass

Compass (verb)

  1. to devise or contrive often with craft or skill, plot
  2. encompass
  3. bring about, achieve

Compass (noun)

  1. boundary, circumference
  2. a circumscribed space
  3. range, scope

Compass (adjective)

  1. forming a curve, curved

Compass (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a guiding or motivating purpose or principle

    "a young go-getter who lost his moral compass in the course of his quest for fame and fortune"

    similar: cynosure, direction, focus, lodestar, polestar
    related: benchmark, criterion, grade, mark, measure, par, standard, touchstone, yardstick, aim, ambition, aspiration, dream, goal, intention, object, objective, purpose, target

  2. an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends

    "within the compass of my voice"

    similar: ambit, amplitude, breadth, confines, dimension(s), extent, range, reach, realm, scope, sweep, width
    related: gamut, spectrum, spread, bailiwick, circle, demesne, department, discipline, domain, element, fief, fiefdom, field, province, region, specialty, sphere, terrain, frontier, horizon, panorama

  3. the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something

    "within the compass of the city walls"

    similar: border, borderline, bound, boundary, brim, circumference, confines, edge, edging, end, frame, fringe, hem, margin, perimeter, periphery, rim, skirt, skirting, verge
    related: ambit, brink, crest, curb, cusp, lip, ceiling, maximum, demarcation, extent, limitation, measure, mere, restriction, termination, borderland, frontier, march, outskirts, pale, selvage, lap, shore
    near: center, core, heart, inner, inside, interior, middle, within

Compass (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to carry through (as a process) to completion

    "attempting more than his modest abilities could compass"

    similar: accomplish, achieve, bring off, carry off, carry out, commit, do, execute, follow through (with), fulfill, make, negotiate, perform, perpetrate, prosecute, pull off, put through, go through
    related: bring about, effect, effectuate, implement, ace, nail, engage (in), practice, work (at), reduplicate, reenact, repeat, actualize, attain, realize, complete, end, finish, wind up
    near: fail, skimp, slight, slur

  2. to travel completely around

    "the great age of exploration, when ships of sail compassed the earth"

    similar: circle, circuit, circumnavigate, circumvent, encircle, girdle, orbit, ring, round
    related: circumambulate, cross, perambulate, traverse

  3. to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends

    "the rebels are compassing the assassination of the king"

    similar: collude, connive, conspire, contrive, intrigue, machinate, plot, put up, scheme
    related: counterplot, brew, concoct, cook (up), devise, hatch, engineer, jockey, maneuver, manipulate, design, frame, lay out, map, plan, shape

  4. to form a circle around

    "a mysterious isle, compassed by treacherous seas"

    similar: circle, embrace, encircle, enclose, encompass, environ, gird, girdle, ring, surround, wreathe
    related: circumscribe, close in, cordon (off), fence (in), hem (in), wall, beset, besiege, entrench, invest, swarm

  5. to have a clear idea of

    "the concept that the earth is billions of years old is one that the average mind struggles to compass"

    similar: appreciate, apprehend, assimilate, behold, catch, catch on (to), cognize, comprehend, conceive, cotton (to or on to), decipher, decode, dig, discern, get, grasp, grok, intuit, know, make, make out, perceive, recognize, register, savvy, see, seize, sense, tumble (to), twig, understand, pick up on
    related: absorb, digest, take in, realize, fathom, penetrate, pierce
    opposite: miss
    near: misapprehend, misconceive, misconstrue, misinterpret, misperceive, misread, mistake, misunderstand

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Compass

The most common words with a similar meaning to Compass:

cynosure, direction, focus, lodestar, polestar, ambit, amplitude, breadth, confines, dimension(s), extent, range, reach, realm, scope, sweep, width, border, borderline, bound, boundary, brim, circumference, edge, edging, end, frame, fringe, hem, margin, perimeter, periphery, rim, skirt, skirting, verge, accomplish, achieve, bring off, carry off

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Compass

Words with the opposite meaning of Compass:

miss

Related Words for Compass

benchmark, criterion, grade, mark, measure, par, standard, touchstone, yardstick, aim, ambition, aspiration, dream, goal, intention, object, objective, purpose, target, gamut, spectrum, spread, bailiwick, demesne, department, discipline, domain, element, fief, fiefdom

Near Antonyms of Compass

center, core, heart, inner, inside, interior, middle, within, fail, skimp, slight, slur, misapprehend, misconceive, misconstrue, misinterpret, misperceive, misread, mistake, misunderstand

Word Forms of Compass

Inflections: compassed, compassing, compasses

Derived words: compassable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Compass

Middle English, from Anglo-French cumpasser to measure, from Vulgar Latin *compassare to pace off, from Latin com- + passus pace

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Compass

compass card, compass plant, compass rose, mariner's compass, moral compass, radio compass, all points/every point of the compass

Frequently Asked Questions about Compass

What does "Compass" mean?

"Compass" means to devise or contrive often with craft or skill, plot. As an a verb, a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: to devise or contrive often with craft or skill, plot. It has 8 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Compass"?

Other words for "Compass" include cynosure, direction, focus, lodestar, polestar, ambit, amplitude and breadth. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Compass" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Compass"?

There are 222 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Compass". Common alternatives include cynosure, direction, focus, lodestar, polestar, ambit, amplitude, breadth, confines and dimension(s).

What is the opposite of "Compass"?

Antonyms of "Compass" include miss. Near antonyms include center, core, heart and inner.

How do you use "Compass" in a sentence?

Examples of "Compass" in a sentence: "a young go-getter who lost his moral compass in the course of his quest for fame and fortune"; "within the compass of my voice"; "within the compass of the city walls".

Is "Compass" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Compass" can be used as a verb, a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Compass"?

"Compass" is pronounced /ˈkəm-pəs/ and divided into syllables as com·pass.

What is the origin of the word "Compass"?

"Compass" comes from Middle English, from Anglo-French cumpasser to measure, from Vulgar Latin *compassare to pace off, from Latin com- + passus pace. First known use: 14th century.