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Definition compound in British English

compound noun

noun
/ˈkɒmpaʊnd/
1

a chemical substance that consists of two or more elements that together form a molecule. Each different compound has a fixed ratio of elements. For example the water compound (H2O) consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom

Example

Why do chemical compounds behave as they do?

Example

Water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen.

Synonyms and related words
1.1

something that consists of two or more substances mixed together

Example

a herbal compound used for treating headaches

Synonyms and related words
Example

John and Steve working together? That's a lethal compound.

Synonyms and related words
3

an enclosed area where a particular group of people live, or where people such as soldiers and prisoners can exercise

Synonyms and related words
4

a combination of two or more words that is used as a single word. The three main types of compound are noun compounds (for example 'bus stop'), adjective compounds (for example 'self-centred'), and verb compounds (for example to 'windsurf').

Synonyms and related words
Definition compound in British English