Compass



GRE 考研

解释

GRE 红宝书

• n. 指南针, 罗盘; 界限, 范围
• ［英］ n. 指南针, 罗盘; 界限, 范围 ( scope, range)
• ［类］ thermometer : temperature / compass : direction ( 温度计用来测温度 / 指南针用来指方向)
• ［记］ com ( 共同) +pass ( 通过) -> 共同的地方 -> 做事的范围

Webster Collegiate

I. transitive verb

• Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French cumpasser to measure, from Vulgar Latin *compassare to pace off, from Latin com- + passus pace
• Date: 14th century
• 1. to devise or contrive often with craft or skill ; plot <persons…who have compassed my destruction — Charles Dickens
• 2. encompass
• 3.
  • a. bring about, achieve
  • b. to get into one's possession or power ; obtain
• 4. comprehend
• ? compassable adjective

II. noun

• Date: 14th century
• 1.
  • a. boundary, circumference <within the compass of the city walls
  • b. a circumscribed space <within the narrow compass of 21 pages — V. L. Parrington
  • c. range, scope <the compass of my voice
• 2. a curved or roundabout course compass of seven days' journey — 2 Kings 3:9(Authorized Version)
• 3.
  • a. a device for determining directions by means of a magnetic needle or group of needles turning freely on a pivot and pointing to the magnetic north
  • b. any of various nonmagnetic devices that indicate direction
  • c. an instrument for describing circles or transferring measurements that consists of two pointed branches joined at the top by a pivot — usually used in plural; called also pair of compasses
• 4. direction 6c <his moral compass
• Synonyms: see range

III. adjective

• Date: 1523
• forming a curve ; curved compass timber

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