compact1

 

adjective

Pronunciation: /kəmˈpakt/
  • 1closely and neatly packed together; dense: a compact cluster of houses
  • having all the necessary components or features neatly fitted into a small space: this compact car has plenty of boot space
  • (of a person or animal) small, strong, and well proportioned.
  • (of speech or writing) concise in expression: a compact summary of the play
  • 2 (compact of) archaic composed or made up of: towns compact of wooden houses

verb

Pronunciation: /kəmˈpakt/
[with object]
  • exert force on (something) so that it becomes more dense; compress: the rubbish was taken to the depot to be compacted (as adjective compacted) compacted earth
  • [no object] become compressed by the exertion of force: the snow hardened and compacted
  • archaic form (something) by pressing its component parts firmly together: the foundation of the walls, compacted of Granite and Lime
  • express in fewer words; condense: the ideas are compacted into two sentences

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkɒmpakt/
  • 1a small flat case containing face powder, a mirror, and a powder puff.
  • 2something that is a small and conveniently shaped example of its kind, in particular a compact camera: a wide selection of films is available for your 35 mm compact
  • 3 Metallurgy a mass of powdered metal compacted together in preparation for sintering: strength is then introduced by infiltrating glass into the compact

Derivatives

compaction

noun

compactly

adverb

compactness

noun

compactor

noun

Origin:

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