compassnoun
uk/ˈkʌm.pəs/us/ˈkʌm.pəs/compass noun (DIRECTION DEVICE)
[ C ] a device for finding direction with a needle that can move easily and that always points to magnetic north
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Points of the compass
- cardinal point
- compass reading
- E, e
- east
- easterly
- geomagnetic pole
- N, n
- northeastern
- northeastward
- northerly
- northern
- northernmost
- northwestward
- southeastern
- southern
- southernmost
- southward
- southwestern
- true north
- western
See more results »
compass noun (MEASURING DEVICE)
compasses [ plural ]
a V-shaped device that is used for drawing circles or measuring distances on maps
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Geometrical & mathematical instruments
- dividers
- planimeter
- protractor
- set square
- square
- T-square
- triangle
compass noun (LIMIT)
[ U ] formal a particular range (of ability, activity, interest, etc.):
It's a musical instrument made of brass, somewhat like a cornet and with a similar compass.
The discussion went beyond the compass of my brain.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Range and limits
- all the way to idiom
- ambit
- band
- bound
- boundary
- condition
- limit
- limited
- meta-
- narrow
- narrowly
- range
- specialized
- spread
- stricture
- string
- strings attached idiom
- term
- the gamut
- threshold
See more results »