compass

American  

[kuhm-puhs] / ˈkʌm pəs /

noun

• compasses
  plural

1. 

   an instrument for determining directions, as by means of a freely rotating magnetized needle that indicates magnetic north.

2. the enclosing line or limits of any area; perimeter.

   You can find anything you want downtown within the compass of ten square blocks.

3. space within limits; area; extent; range; scope: the broad compass of the novel.

   the narrow compass of the strait;

   the broad compass of the novel.

4. Also called range. the total range of tones of a voice or of a musical instrument.

5. due or proper limits; moderate bounds.

   Their behavior stayed within the compass of propriety.

6. a passing round; circuit.

   the compass of a year.

7. Often compasses an instrument for drawing or describing circles, measuring distances, etc., consisting generally of two movable, rigid legs hinged to each other at one end (usually used withpair of ).

   to spread the legs of a compass and draw a larger circle.

8. Astronomy.

   1. Also called Mariner's Compass. Compass. the constellation Pyxis.

   2. Compasses, the constellation Circinus.

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adjective

1. curved; forming a curve or arc: compass roof.

   a compass timber;

   compass roof.

verb (used with object)

• compasses,
  present (3rd person singular)
• compassed,
  past participle,  past
• compassing
  present participle

1. to go or move round; make the circuit of.

   It would take a week to compass his property on foot.

2. to extend or stretch around; hem in; surround; encircle.

   An old stone wall compasses their property.

3. to attain or achieve; accomplish; obtain.

   To have compassed this task in the limited time available is no mean achievement.

4. to contrive; plot; scheme.

   to compass a treacherous plan.

5. to make curved or circular.

6. to comprehend; to grasp, as with the mind.

   His mind could not compass the extent of the disaster.

compass British  

/ ˈkʌmpəs /

noun

1. an instrument for finding direction, usually having a magnetized needle which points to magnetic north swinging freely on a pivot

2. 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

3. limits or range

   within the compass of education

4. music the interval between the lowest and highest note attainable by a voice or musical instrument

5. archaic a circular course

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verb

1. to encircle or surround; hem in

2. to comprehend or grasp mentally

3. to achieve; attain; accomplish

4. obsolete to plot

compass Scientific  

/ kŭm′pəs /

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.

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Synonym Usage

See range.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• outcompass
  verb (used with object)
• precompass
  verb (used with object)
• compassable
  adjective
• compassless
  adjective
• uncompassable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• compasses
  plural

Participles

• compassing
  present
• compassed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• compass
  simple
• compasses
  simple
• have compassed
  perfect
• has compassed
  perfect
• am compassing
  progressive
• are compassing
  progressive
• is compassing
  progressive
• have been compassing
  perfect progressive
• has been compassing
  perfect progressive

Past

• compassed
  simple
• had compassed
  perfect
• was compassing
  progressive
• were compassing
  progressive
• had been compassing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will compass
  simple
• will have compassed
  perfect
• will be compassing
  progressive
• will have been compassing
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of compass

First recorded in 1250–1300; (verb) Middle English compassen, from Old French compasser “to measure,” from unattested Vulgar Latin compāssāre, equivalent to compāss(us), “equal step” ( Latin com- com- + pāssus pace ¹ ) + -āre verb suffix; (noun) Middle English compas, from Old French, derivative of compasser

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Explanation

Long before we had GPS (Global Positioning System) devices, people used a magnetic instrument called a compass for navigation. Some people still use a compass to navigate — usually when their GPS isn’t working. Compass can also refer to another type of instrument, one that’s used for drawing circles; this should be familiar to you if you have ever studied geometry. In addition, compass can mean "range" or "scope." If you decide to hike the Appalachian Trail, using a compass (the navigational kind) should hopefully fall within your compass of ability. If not, we hope you own a reliable GPS.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

compass compasses compassed compassing

Picture what you want your life to look like in a year and use that image as your compass.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

Borussia Dortmund president – and Bundesliga chairman – Hans-Joachim Watzke added his influential voice, stating: "Champions must go up and we think the compass model with four regional leagues is the best option."

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

These particles could align with Earth's magnetic field and behave like microscopic compass needles.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 2, 2026

Where does one look for direction when the compass goes haywire?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

When my arm hits dirt, I drop the compass and it tumbles into a crevice.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

Cemeteries are invaluable compasses, a theme that binds Enriquez’s essays, and “Somebody Is Walking on Your Grave” is an immersive testament to her genius.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2025

Guided by phosphorescent compasses strapped to their wrists, the divers reached the ship in just a few minutes.

From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2025

Earth's dipole field, created by its liquid outer iron core, produces a magnetic field that loops from the North Pole to the South Pole and is the reason compasses point toward the poles.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 25, 2024

He co-founded a company that began to manufacture this paint, which was used to illuminate aircraft instruments, compasses and watches.

From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2023

When Luna was little, her grandmother taught her about magnets and compasses.

From "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill

“Wild Swans” would seem to have laid bare every cruel irony of the volatile times it compassed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 14, 2026

The "great tracts of land" he imagines "compassed about with heavens fair" are not necessarily those of Eden.

From The Guardian ● Dec. 20, 2010

He compassed a great coup with 317 second-hand bath-tubs, became a wholesale bargain man with a Long Island City warehouse, and his slogan was known to all the city: "Fippany for Any Old Thing".

From Time Magazine Archive

These aims, it was judged, could be compassed in two years and the New York Board of Regents had been persuaded to issue an irregular* charter, for the first "junior college" in the state.

From Time Magazine Archive

Derby must also share the benefit; and this could not be compassed without erecting a stage between that town and Nottingham, Nottingham being already in direct communication with Chesterfield.

From The History of the Post Office From Its Establishment Down to 1836 by Herbert Joyce

But Mr. Scrope has his refinements, and, besides that he spares himself, would take a particular pleasure in compassing my ruin at the same time that he outwitted you.'

From Parson Kelly by Andrew Lang

The Jesuits were accused of compassing death by magic.

From Old Quebec The Fortress of New France by Claude Glennon Bryan

A small band or fillet; any little band or flat molding, compassing a column, like a ring.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Noah Webster

Lean Jim Turley—forgetful of his interests in a fairly divine satisfaction with compassing the joy and welfare of his fellows!

From Every Man for Himself by Norman Duncan

For he would not have supposed that Miss Judy was known by any one beyond the compassing hills, so completely had her life seemed bound about by the wooded borders of the village.

From Oldfield A Kentucky Tale of the Last Century by Nancy Huston Banks

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