compound

Universal Words noun, adjective, verb noun 1 a thing consisting of two or more separate things combined together 2 (chemistry) a substance formed by a chemical reaction of two or more elements in fixed amounts relative to each other: Common salt is a compound of sodium and chlorine. compareELEMENT, MIXTURE 3 (grammar) a noun, an adjective or a verb made of two or more words or parts of words, written as one or more words, or joined by a HYPHEN. Travel agent, dark-haired and bathroom are all compounds. 4 an area surrounded by a fence or wall in which a factory or other group of buildings stands: a prison compound adjective [notbeforenoun] (technical) formed of two or more parts: a compound adjective, such as fair-skinned * A compound sentence contains two or more clauses. * the compound eye of a wasp verb [VN] 1 [oftenpassive] (written) to make sth bad become even worse by causing further harm: The problems were compounded by severe food shortages. 2 (be compounded of / from sth) (formal) to be formed from sth: The DNA molecule is compounded from many smaller molecules. 3 [oftenpassive] (formal or technical) to mix sth together: liquid soaps compounded with disinfectant 4 (finance) to pay or charge interest on an amount of money that includes any interest already earned or charged