a unit of weight equal to 16 ounces, or about 0.454 kilograms
The recipe calls for one pound of strawberries.
He lost five pounds after a week of hiking.
✦ From Old English “pund,” ultimately from Latin “pōndo” (by weight).
a substance produced when two or more chemical elements combine in fixed proportions
Water is a simple compound made from hydrogen and oxygen.
Salt is another common compound that people use every day.
✦ From Latin ‘componere’ meaning ‘to put together’.
a group of buildings enclosed by a fence or wall, often belonging to the same family, company, or military unit
Everyone living on the farm shares meals in the central building of the compound.
Journalists waited outside the embassy compound for news.
✦ Sense extended in 17th century from ‘enclosed grouping’ of things to ‘enclosed area of buildings’.
to make a problem, situation, or feeling worse by adding to it
Late fees will compound your debt if you do not pay on time.
Her silence only compounded the misunderstanding.
✦ Verb sense of ‘add to’ or ‘increase’ dates from early 17th century.
a word made by joining two or more separate words together, such as “toothbrush”
“Snowman” is a compound formed from “snow” and “man.”
English creates new compounds quickly, like “smartphone.”
✦ Linguistic sense recorded since the 17th century, transferring the idea of ‘put together’ to words.
in finance, to calculate and add interest on both the original sum of money and on the interest already earned
The bank will compound interest daily on your savings account.
If you leave the money untouched, the interest compounds over time.
✦ Financial use grew alongside modern banking practices in the 18th century.
