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 compacting 1 of 2
noun
as in condensing
the act or process of reducing the size or volume of something by or as if by pressing the compacting of wool fibers into felt Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- condensing
- squeezing
- compression
- compaction
- contracting
- condensation
- squeeze
- contraction
- consolidation
- constricting
- constriction
- telescoping
- concentration
- shortening
- decreasing
- streamlining
- curtailment
- abridgment
- abridgement
- abbreviation
- simplification
- lessening
- diminishment
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- expansion
- scattering
- decompression
- dispersion
- dissipation
- dilation
- swelling
- inflation
- distention
- distension
compacting
2 of 2verb
1
as in consolidating
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
- consolidating
- concentrating
- merging
- integrating
- uniting
- centralizing
- combining
- centering
- reducing
- unifying
- incorporating
- blending
- coordinating
- concentering
- polarizing
- coalescing
- fusing
- assembling
- harmonizing
- collecting
- linking
- joining
- orchestrating
- gathering
- reuniting
- reunifying
- conjoining
- colligating
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- decentralizing
- spreading (out)
- separating
- segregating
- deconcentrating
2
as in compressing
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
- compressing
- condensing
- packing
- squeezing
- consolidating
- telescoping
- contracting
- collapsing
- constricting
- simplifying
- cramming
- shortening
- constringing
- narrowing (down)
- capsulizing
- capsuling
- downsizing
- shrinking
- crowding
- abridging
- curtailing
- decreasing
- abbreviating
- jamming
- streamlining
- jam-packing
- boiling down
- concentrating
- diminishing
- lessening
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- expanding
- opening
- dispersing
- decompressing
- scattering
- dissipating
- dilating
- swelling
- outstretching
- inflating
- distending
- outspreading
- adrenocorticosteroids
- adrenocorticotrophic
- adrenocorticotrophic hormone
- adrenocorticotrophin
- adrenocorticotrophins
- adrenocorticotropic
- adrenocorticotropic hormone
- adrenocorticotropin
- adrenocorticotropins
- adrenoleucodystrophy
- adrenoleukodystrophies
- adrenoleukodystrophy
- adrenosterones
- adrenotrophins
- adrenoxine
- adret
- adriamycins
- Adrian
- adrianople
- adrianople red
- adrianoples
- adrianopoles
- adrianopolises
- adrianopolisses
- Adriatic