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Meaning of compact in English

  1. Pronunciation

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  1. Verb

    compact

    Definitions

    1. have the property of being packable or compactable or of compacting easily

    Examples

    • « This powder compacts easily »
    • « Such odd-shaped items do not pack well »
  2. 2. compress into a wad

    Examples

    • « wad paper into the box »
  3. 3. make more compact by or as if by pressing

    Examples

    • « compress the data »

    Antonyms

    • decompress
    • uncompress
  4. 4. squeeze or press together

    Examples

    • « she compressed her lips »
    • « the spasm contracted the muscle »
  5. Classifying Adjective

    compact

    Definitions

    1. closely crowded together

    Examples

    • « a compact shopping center »
    • « a dense population »
    • « thick crowds »

    Synonyms

    • concentrated
  6. 2. heavy and compact in form or stature

    Examples

    • « a wrestler of compact build »
    • « he was tall and heavyset »
    • « stocky legs »
    • « a thick middle-aged man »
    • « a thickset young man »

    Synonyms

    • fat
  7. 3. briefly giving the gist of something

    Examples

    • « a short and compendious book »
    • « a compact style is brief and pithy »
    • « succinct comparisons »
    • « a summary formulation of a wide-ranging subject »

    Synonyms

    • concise
  8. Noun

    compact

    Etymology

    late 16th century: from Latin compactum, past participle of compacisci, from com-‘with’ + pacisci‘make a covenant’. Compare with pact

    Definitions

    1. a small cosmetics case with a mirror

    Examples

    • « to be carried in a woman's purse »
  9. 2. a signed written agreement between two or more parties (nations) to perform some action
  10. 3. a small and economical car
  11. Qualitative Adjective

    compact

    Etymology

    late Middle English: from Latin compact-‘closely put together, joined’, from the verb compingere, from com-‘together’ + pangere‘fasten’

    Definitions

    1. closely and firmly united or packed together

    Examples

    • « compact soil »
    • « compact clusters of flowers »

    Synonyms

    • clayey
    • cloggy
    • heavy
    • close-packed
    • impacted
    • wedged
    • serried
    • consolidated
    • packed
    • tight

    Antonyms

    • loose

See also

  • concentrated

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