COMPASS | English Meaning, Definition, and Pronunciation

Middle English: from Old French compas (noun), compasser (verb), based on Latin com- ‘together’ + passus ‘a step or pace’. Several senses (‘measure’, ‘artifice’, ‘circumscribed area’, and ‘pair of compasses’) which appeared in Middle English are also found in Old French, but their development and origin are uncertain. The transference of sense to the magnetic compass is held to have occurred in the related Italian word compasso, from the circular shape of the compass box

an instrument containing a magnetized pointer which shows the direction of magnetic north and bearings from it

device showing direction of magnetic north

• walkers should be equipped with a map and compass
• a magnetic compass
• Crewe was ideally placed on the rail network, with connections running to all points of the compass

an instrument for drawing circles and arcs and measuring distances between points, consisting of two arms linked by a movable joint, one arm ending in a point and the other usually carrying a pencil or pen

instrument for drawing circles

• a regular heptagon cannot be constructed accurately with only ruler and compass

the range or scope of something

range or scope

• the event had political repercussions which are beyond the compass of this book
• goods and services which fall within the compass of the free market

go round (something) in a circular course

go round in circular course

• the ship wherein Magellan compassed the world

contrive to accomplish (something)

manage to accomplish

• he compassed his end only by the exercise of violence