compact
1 of 4adjective
com·pact kəm-ˈpakt 
käm-ˈpakt,
ˈkäm-ˌpakt
1
: predominantly formed or filled : composed, made
Miss Austen's novels are compact of delicate trivialities …
Samuel Alexander
Samuel Alexander2
a
: having a dense structure or parts or units closely packed or joined
a compact woolen
compact bone
b
: not diffuse or verbose
a compact statement
c
: occupying a small volume by reason of efficient use of space
a compact camera
a compact formation of troops
d
: short-bodied, solid, and without excess flesh
He had a small, compact body that looked full of life. D. H. Lawrence
D. H. Lawrence3
: being a topological space and especially a metric space with the property that for any collection of open sets which contains it there is a subset of the collection with a finite number of elements which also contains it
compactly
kəm-ˈpak(t)-lē
adverb käm-ˈpak(t)-
ˈkäm-ˌpak(t)-
compactness
kəm-ˈpak(t)-nəs
noun käm-ˈpak(t)-
ˈkäm-ˌpak(t)-
compact
2 of 4verb
compacted; compacting; compacts
transitive verb
1
: to make up by connecting or combining : compose
2
a
: to knit or draw together : combine
b
: to press together : compress
intransitive verb
: to become compacted
compactible
kəm-ˈpak-tə-bəl
adjective käm-ˈpak-
ˈkäm-ˌpak-
compactor noun
or less commonly compacter
kəm-ˈpak-tər
käm-ˈpak-,
ˈkäm-ˌpak-
compact
3 of 4noun (1)
com·pact ˈkäm-ˌpakt
: something that is compact or compacted:
a
: a small cosmetic case (as for compressed powder)
b
: an automobile smaller than an intermediate but larger than a subcompact
compact
4 of 4noun (2)
com·pact ˈkäm-ˌpakt
: an agreement or covenant between two or more parties
Synonyms
Adjective
- firm
- hard
- rigid
- solid
- stiff
- unyielding
Verb
- center
- centralize
- concenter
- concentrate
- consolidate
- polarize
- unify
- unite
Noun (2)
- accord
- alliance
- convention
- covenant
- pact
- treaty
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective The drill has a compact design. the apartment's compact floor plan The cabin was compact but perfectly adequate. He is compact and muscular. He has a compact body. Verb The snow had compacted into a hard icy layer. the media giant decided to compact all of its far-flung operations onto a single site See More
Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Verb
Middle English, firmly put together, from Latin compactus, from past participle of compingere to put together, from com- + pangere to fasten — more at pact
Noun (2)
Latin compactum, from neuter of compactus, past participle of compacisci to make an agreement, from com- + pacisci to contract — more at pact
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun (1)
1601, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
1591, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing compact
Kids Definition
compact 1 of 4
adjective
com·pact kəm-ˈpakt
ˈkäm-ˌpakt
1
: closely united or packed
compact dirt
2
: arranged so as to save space
a compact house
compact
2 of 4verb
compacted; compacting
1
: to draw together : combine
2
: to press together tightly
The machine compacts the trash.
compact
3 of 4noun
com·pact ˈkäm-ˌpakt
1
: a small case for cosmetics
2
: a somewhat small automobile
compact
4 of 4noun
com·pact ˈkäm-ˌpakt
: agreement sense 3
Medical Definition
compact
adjective
com·pact kəm-ˈpakt käm-ˈ
käm-ˈ ˈkäm-ˌ
: having a dense structure without small cavities or cells
compact bone
compare cancellous compacted 1 of 2
adjective
as in compressed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- compressed
- hardened
- indurated
- compact
- compressed
- stiffened
- dense
- tempered
- solid
- rigid
- condensed
- unyielding
- thick
- stiff
- case-hardened
- heavy
- firm
- thickset
- inelastic
- inflexible
- ramrod
- hard
- unbending
- close
- rocklike
- sturdy
- adamantine
- impermeable
- substantial
- impenetrable
- nonporous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- soft
- spongy
- loose
- thin
- scattered
- malleable
- flexible
- flabby
- pliable
- elastic
- floppy
- pliant
- squishy
- porous
- squashy
- permeable
- flaccid
- limp
- supple
- slack
- light
- droopy
- bendable
- airy
- lank
- ultrasoft
compacted
2 of 2verb
1
as in consolidated
to bring (something) to a central point or under a single control the media giant decided to compact all of its far-flung operations onto a single site Synonyms & Similar Words
- consolidated
- concentrated
- integrated
- united
- merged
- combined
- unified
- centralized
- centered
- reduced
- polarized
- concentered
- blended
- incorporated
- fused
- harmonized
- coordinated
- coalesced
- orchestrated
- assembled
- conjoined
- linked
- collected
- blent
- reunited
- joined
- colligated
- gathered
- reunified
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- decentralized
- spread (out)
- separated
- segregated
- deconcentrated
2
as in condensed
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together compact the snow into a tight ball for throwing Synonyms & Similar Words
- compressed
- condensed
- squeezed
- packed
- consolidated
- constricted
- telescoped
- collapsed
- crammed
- simplified
- capsuled
- contracted
- constringed
- shortened
- capsulized
- abbreviated
- crowded
- narrowed (down)
- jammed
- curtailed
- abridged
- shrunk
- downsized
- decreased
- streamlined
- jam-packed
- concentrated
- boiled down
- shrank
- diminished
- lessened
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- expanded
- dispersed
- opened
- scattered
- decompressed
- outstretched
- dilated
- dissipated
- distended
- inflated
- outspread
- swelled
- synonymouser
- synonymousest
- synonymouslier
- synonymousliest
- synonymously
- synonymousnesses
- synonymousser
- synonymoussest
- synonyms
- synonymy
- synopses
- synopsis
- synopsise
- synopsised
- synopsises
- synopsising
- synopsize
- synopsized
- synopsizes
- synopsizing
- synoptic
- synoptic meteorology
- synoptical
- synoptically
- synopticcer