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Compass - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
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Compass : (noun)
1: navigational instrument for finding directions
2: an area in which something acts or operates or has power or
control: "the range of a supersonic jet"; "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" [syn: scope, range, reach, orbit, ambit]
3: the limit of capability; "within the compass of education"
[syn: range, reach, grasp]
4: drafting instrument used for drawing circles
(verb)
1: bring about; accomplish; "This writer attempts more than his
talents can compass"
2: travel around, either by plane or ship; "We compassed the
earth" [syn: circumnavigate]
3: get the meaning of something; "Do you comprehend the meaning
of this letter?" [syn: get the picture, comprehend, savvy,
dig, grasp, apprehend]
Based on WordNet 2.0
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Compass : \Com"pass\, n. [F. compas, fr. LL. compassus circle,
prop., a stepping together; com- _ passus pace, step. See
Pace, Pass.]
1. A passing round; circuit; circuitous course.
They fetched a compass of seven day's journey. --2
Kings iii. 9.
This day I breathed first; time is come round, And
where I did begin, there shall I end; My life is run
his compass. --Shak.
2. An inclosing limit; boundary; circumference; as, within
the compass of an encircling wall.
3. An inclosed space; an area; extent.
Their wisdom . . . lies in a very narrow compass.
--Addison.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Compass : \Com"pass\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compassed; p. pr. &
vb. n. Compassing.] [F. compasser, LL. compassare.]
1. To go about or entirely round; to make the circuit of.
Ye shall compass the city seven times. --Josh. vi.
4.
We the globe can compass soon. --Shak.
2. To inclose on all sides; to surround; to encircle; to
environ; to invest; to besiege; -- used with about, round,
around, and round about.
With terrors and with clamors compassed round.
--Milton.
Now all the blessings Of a glad father compass thee
about. --Shak.
Thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and
compass thee round. --Luke xix.
43.
3. To reach round; to circumvent; to get within one's power;
to obtain; to accomplish.
If I can check my erring love, I will: If not, to
compass her I'll use my skill. --Shak.
How can you hope to compass your designs? --Denham.
4. To curve; to bend into a circular form. [Obs. except in
carpentry and shipbuilding.] --Shak.
5. (Law) To purpose; to intend; to imagine; to plot.
Compassing and imagining the death of the king are
synonymous terms; compassing signifying the purpose
or design of the mind or will, and not, as in common
speech, the carrying such design to effect.
--Blackstone.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Compass :
COMPrehensive ASSembler.
The assembly language on CDC computers.
(1995-01-19)
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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