compare
278
other companies. | Compared to a student grant the pay is
quite good. 2 [T] to show a similarity between (one thing
and another): It's impossible to compare London and New
York/to compare the two cities; they're quite differ-
ent. 3 [(with)] to be worthy of comparison: 1983 was an
excellent year for wine – I'm afraid this year's doesn't com-
pare. (=is not nearly so good) | Life/living in a town can't
compare with life/living in the country. (=life in the country
is much better) | She was pleased to discover that her work
compared favourably with her older sister's. 4 compare
notes infml to talk about each other's experiences and opin-
ions of something: We've been comparing notes on our trips
to India. 5 Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? quote
a phrase from a poem by William SHAKESPEARE, describing
how beautiful a particular woman was
USAGES Compare can be followed by to or with: London is
large compared to/with Paris. Compare to is often
used when showing that two things are alike: The poet
compares the woman he loves to a rose. (=says she is
like a rose). Compare with is often used when looking at
the ways in which two things are like and unlike each
other: If we compare French schools with British
schools, we find there are many differences.
compare² n beyond/without compare especially lit to a very
high degree: beauty/beautiful beyond compare
com·par·i·son /kəmˈpærsən/ n 1 [U(with)] the act of com-
paring: By comparison with London, Paris is small. | The
driver's injuries were trivial in comparison with those suf-
fered by his passenger. | My garden doesn't stand/bear com-
parison with his. (=his garden is much nicer) 2 [C[between,
with)] a statement of the points of similarity and difference
between two things: He drew (=made) a comparison
between (=compared) religion and superstition. 3 [U[between]]
similarity: There is no comparison between frozen and fresh
fish. (=fresh fish is better) 4 [U] tech (in grammar) the
changing of the form of an adverb or adjective to show the
three degrees of POSITIVE, COMPARATIVE, and SUPERLATIVE
com'pari·son-shop v [I] to go to different shops in order
to compare the prices of things, so that you can buy things
for the cheapest possible price
com·part·ment /kəmˈpɑːtmənt||-ˈɑːr-/ n any of the parts
into which an enclosed space, e.g. a railway carriage or box,
is divided: We sat in a second-class compartment. | the ice
compartment in a fridge → see also GLOVE COMPARTMENT
com·part·men·tal·ize also -ise BrE /ˌkɒmpɑːtˈmentl-
aɪz||ˌkɑːm.pɑːrt-/ v [T] to divide into separate compartments,
divisions etc; CATEGORIZE: compartmentalized information
—ization /ˌkɒmpɑːtˌmentl-aɪˈzeɪʃən|| ˌkɑːm.pɑːrtmentl-
əˈzeɪʃən/ n [U]
com·pass /ˈkʌmpəs/ n 1 an instrument for showing direc-
tion, consisting of a freely moving pointer which always turns
to the MAGNETIC NORTH → see INSTRUMENT (USAGE) 2 also
compasses pl. — a V-shaped instrument used for drawing
circles, measuring distances on maps etc: a pair of com-
passes 3 [C usually sing.] fml an area or range of interest, activity
etc; SCOPE: Finance is not within the compass of this depart-
ment. → see also box the compass (BOX)
com·pas·sion /kəmˈpæən/ n [U(for, on)] sympathy for the
sufferings of others, causing a desire to help them: She
felt/had/showed great compassion for the sick children.
com·pas·sion·ate /kəmˈpæʃənɪt/ adj [(towards)] feeling or
showing compassion —ly adv
com,passionate 'leave n [U] special permission to leave
work or military service for a short time for personal
reasons, e.g. the death of a relative: The soldier was given
compassionate leave to attend his mother's funeral.
com'passion fa,tigue n [U] the state of being tired of
being sympathetic especially to the problems of less fortu-
nate people or animals, caused by hearing and/or seeing too
much about the problem: I think I must have compassion
fatigue. I just can't get interested in this programme.
'compass point n any of the 32 marks on a COMPASS
showing direction
com·pat·i·bil·i·ty /kəmˌpætəˈbɪləti/ n [U(with)] the ability to
exist together or to be used together
com·pat·i·ble¹ /kəmˈpætəbəl/ adj [(with)] 1 able to exist or
live together: Their marriage ended because they were simply
not compatible. | compatible blood groups | This project is not
compatible with the company's long-term plans. → opposite
INCOMPATIBLE 2 able to be used together or with (another
thing): Is your computer compatible with the Lotus spread-
sheet program? | [after n] Is this software Apple Macintosh
compatible?—bly adv
compatible² n a piece of equipment, such as a computer, or
a computer PROGRAM that can be used with the stated other
type of equipment: a computer workshop for those who have
just acquired an IBM compatible | MS-DOS is the operating
system used by IBM personal computers and their compatibles
such as Amstrad 8512.
com·pa·tri·ot /kəmˈpeɪtriət||-ˈpeɪt-/ n fml a person who was
born in or is a citizen of the same country as another: He
tried to avoid spending too much time with his compatriots
when he lived abroad.
com·peer /ˈkɒmpɪə||kɑːm-/ n fml or old use a person of equal
rank, especially a companion
com·pel /kəmˈpel/ v -ll- [T] 1 [+obj+to-v] to make (a person
or thing) do something, by force, moral persuasion, or
orders that must be obeyed: Employees are compelled to join
the company's pension plan after a year's service. | His con-
science compelled him to admit his part in the affair. 2 fml to
cause (a feeling, event etc) to exist or happen, as if by force:
Lack of funds for the campaign compelled his withdrawal. | a
degree of political skill that compels our admiration → com-
pare IMPEL; see also COMPULSION
com·pel·ling /kəmˈpelɪŋ/ adj 1 that holds your attention,
especially by being exciting: a compelling adventure
story 2 that compels you to do something: I have no
compelling reasons to refuse. | compelling arguments for
accepting this proposal —ly adv
com·pen·di·ous /kəmˈpendiəs/ adj fml (of books etc) giving
information in a short but complete form —ly adv
com·pen·di·um /kəmˈpendiəm/ n pl. -diums or -dia /-diə/
[fml] (a book containing) a short but detailed and com-
plete account of facts, a subject etc: a compendium of useful
information
com·pen·sate /ˈkɒmpənseɪt||ˈkɑːm-/ v 1 [T(for)] to provide
with a suitable payment for some loss, damage, inconven-
ience etc: Many firms compensate their workers if they are
injured at work. 2 [I(for)] to act as a balance (for); remove the
bad effect (of): Her intelligence more than compensates for her
lack of experience. | Nothing can compensate for losing my
husband. —satory /ˌkɒmpənˈseɪtəri||ˌkɑːmˈpenseˌtɔri/ adj:
compensatory payments
com·pen·sa·tion /ˌkɒmpənˈseɪʃən||kɑːm-/ n [S;U(for)]
something (especially money) given as a way of compensat-
ing: The union is seeking compensation for two factory work-
ers who were dismissed last week. | The travel agents offered
them £200 in compensation for their lost holiday. | a compen-
sation claim → compare CONSOLATION, RECOMPENSE
com·pere¹ /ˈkɒmpeə||ˈkɑm-/ n BrE a person who intro-
duces the various acts in a television or stage show or other
presentation
compere² v [I;T] BrE to act as the compere of (a television or
stage show)
com·pete /kəmˈpiːt/ v [I(with, against, for)] to try to win
something in competition with someone else: to compete
with/against a rival company | She and her sister are always
competing for attention. | The government has to reconcile the
competing demands for tax cuts and higher public spending.
[I+to-v] Several advertising agencies are competing to get the
contract. → see also COMPETITION, COMPETITOR
com·pe·tence /ˈkɒmpɪtəns||ˈkɑm-/ also com·pe·ten·cy
/-tənsi/ rare — n 1 [U] ability to do what is needed; skill: I'm
only worried about his attitude to the job; his competence (as a
designer) is not in question. → opposite INCOMPETENCE 2 [U]
tech a) the powers of a court of law: The case is beyond this
court's competence. b) the qualities necessary for a person to
be admitted to a court of law (e.g. as a witness), such as
having the right citizenship 3 [S] lit or old use enough money
to live on comfortably
com·pe·tent /ˈkɒmpɪtənt||ˈkɑːm-/ adj 1 having the ability
or skill to do something: a competent swimmer | My secretary
is perfectly competent, but she doesn't have much initiative.