compile

[ kuhm-pahyl ]

verb (used with object)

, com·piled, com·pil·ing.

1. to put together (documents, selections, or other materials) in one book or work.
2. to make (a book, writing, or the like) of materials from various sources:

   to compile an anthology of plays; to compile a graph showing changes in profit.

3. to gather together:

   to compile data.

4. Computers. to translate (a computer program) from a high-level language into another language, usually machine language, using a compiler.

compile

/ kəmˈpaɪl /

verb

1. to make or compose from other materials or sources

   to compile a list of names

2. to collect or gather for a book, hobby, etc
3. computing to create (a set of machine instructions) from a high-level programming language, using a compiler

Other Words From

• precom·pile verb (used with object) precompiled precompiling
• recom·pile verb (used with object) recompiled recompiling
• uncom·piled adjective
• well-com·piled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of compile¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Latin compīlāre “to rob, pillage, steal from another writer,” equivalent to com- “with” + -pīlāre, perhaps akin to pīla “column, pier,” pīlāre “to fix firmly, plant” (hence, “pile up, accumulate”); com-, pile ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of compile¹

C14: from Latin compīlāre to pile together, plunder, from com- together + pīlāre to thrust down, pack

Example Sentences

The man is working to compile an oral history of the Troubles for Boston College's Belfast Project.

From Salon

The prosecution told the court that posts sent by Mr Heath - a former prison officer - had been screenshotted by police to compile a 48-page document for the jury.

From BBC

Berger’s 127 rushing yards make him the only member of the trio to compile more yards on the ground than through the air.

From Los Angeles Times

The doctor worked with lawyers to compile the immense amount of paperwork necessary to prove that her patient qualified for an exception.

From Slate

Politicians and consumer advocates have long been critical of how companies such as Facebook compile information on users that is utilized to target ads at people based on their interests, location, gender and other information.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• amass
• arrange
• assemble
• collect
• compose
• cull
• edit
• gather
• glean
• organize