compass
KUM-puss
/ˈkʌmpəs/
An instrument containing a magnetized pointer which shows the direction of magnetic north and bearings from it.
Can also refer to the range or scope of something (e.g., 'the compass of his voice').
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'com-' (together) and 'passus' (step). It originally meant a 'step together' or a circle, which is why it applies to both the directional tool and the tool for drawing circles.
Commonly confused with
- gyroscope: A compass uses the Earth's magnetic field; a gyroscope uses the principle of angular momentum to maintain orientation.
Collocations
- magnetic compass
- moral compass
- points of the compass
Idioms & expressions
- box the compass
Example sentences
- "Within the compass of a city's wall, the laws of man must hold." Classical literature
- "The hiker relied on his compass to find the way back to camp after the sun went down." Survival
Memory hook
A 'Compass' helps you 'Pass' through the woods safely. Points North.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'compasses' (the tool for drawing circles), though they share the same name and root.
Fun facts
- The Chinese invented the compass during the Han Dynasty, but it was originally used for fortune-telling, not navigation.
Related words
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