compound
UK/kәm'paund/US
NGSL 3kIELTSTOEFLGREB1
Definitions
n.
A substance or thing made of two or more combined parts
化合物；复合物
adj.
Made up of several parts
复合的，混合的
v.
To make a problem or situation worse
使加重，使恶化
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedcom- (together) + pound (a worn-down form of pōnere via Old French 'compoundre') = 'placed together.' A compound is parts combined into one. The verb 'compound a problem' is the same idea turned negative: piling more onto an existing difficulty. (Note: the 'walled enclosure' compound is an unrelated word from Malay.)
Root pos still carries 66 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.chemical compound化合物
- 2.compound interest复利
- 3.compound the problem使问题恶化
- 4.compound word复合词
Example Sentences
- 1.
Water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen.
- 2.
Cutting staff only compounded the company's problems.
- 3.
The loan earns compound interest each year.