different between compound vs medley

English

Etymology 1

Possibly from Malay kampong, kampung (“group of buildings, village”), via Dutch or Portuguese .

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?k?mpa?nd/
• (US) enPR: k?m'pound, IPA^(key): /?k?mpa?nd/

Noun

compound (plural compounds)

1. An enclosure within which workers, prisoners, or soldiers are confined
2. An enclosure for secure storage.
3. A group of buildings situated close together, e.g. for a school or block of offices

Synonyms

• (enclosure within which workers, prisoners, or soldiers are confined): gaol/jail, pen, pound, prison

Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle English compounen, from Middle French componre, compondre (“to put together”), from Latin compon?, from Latin com- (“together”) + pon? (“to put”).

Pronunciation

• adj. and noun (UK) IPA^(key): /?k?mpa?nd/
• adj. and noun (US) enPR: k?m'pound, IPA^(key): /?k?mpa?nd/
• verb (US, UK) enPR: k?mpound', IPA^(key): /k?m?pa?nd/
• Rhymes: -a?nd

Adjective

compound (not comparable)

1. composed of elements; not simple

   a compound word

   • 1725, Isaac Watts, Logick, or The Right Use of Reason in the Enquiry After Truth With a Variety of Rules to Guard

     Compound substances are made up of two or more simple substances.

2. (mathematics) dealing with numbers of various denominations of quantity, or with processes more complex than the simple process

   compound addition; compound proportion

3. (music) An octave higher than originally (i.e. a compound major second is equivalent to a major ninth).

Synonyms

• (composed of elements): composite

Antonyms

• (composed of elements): simple

Derived terms

• compound chocolate
• compound interest
• compound leaf
• compoundly

Translations

Noun

compound (plural compounds)

2. Anything made by combining several things.
3. (chemistry, dated) A substance made from any combination elements.
5. (chemistry) A substance formed by chemical union of two or more ingredients in definite proportions by weight.
6. (linguistics) A lexeme that consists of more than one stem; compound word; for example laptop, formed from lap and top.
7. (rail transport) a compound locomotive, a steam locomotive with both high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders.

Synonyms

• (anything made by combining several things): amalgam, blend, combination, composite, mix, mixture
• (word): compound word

Hyponyms

• (word): closed compound, hyphenated compound, open compound
• (chemistry): chemical compound

Translations

Verb

compound (third-person singular simple present compounds, present participle compounding, simple past and past participle compounded)

1. (transitive) To form (a resulting mixture) by combining different elements, ingredients, or parts.

   to compound a medicine
2. (transitive) To assemble (ingredients) into a whole; to combine, mix, or unite.

   • We have the power of altering […] and compounding those images […] into all the varieties of picture.

3. (transitive) To modify or change by combination with some other thing or part; to mingle with something else.
4. (transitive, law) To settle by agreeing on less than the claim, or on different terms than those stipulated.

   to compound a debt

5. (transitive) To settle amicably; to adjust by agreement; to compromise.
6. (intransitive) To come to terms of agreement; to agree; to settle by a compromise; usually followed by with before the person participating, and for before the thing compounded or the consideration.
   • 1602, Richard Carew, Survey of Cornwall

     [Cornwall] compounded to furnish ten oxen after Michaelmas for thirty pounds.

   • Compound for sins they are inclined to / By damning those they have no mind to.

7. (transitive, obsolete) To compose; to constitute.
8. (intransitive, finance) To increase in value with interest, where the interest is earned on both the principal sum and prior earned interest.
9. (transitive) To worsen a situation.
10. (horse racing, intransitive) Of a horse: to fail to maintain speed.
    • 1855, The Sporting Review (volume 34, page 240)

      At the hill, the Warrior must have been at least ten lengths in front of Wild Dayrell; but he compounded about 200 yards on the T. Y. C. side of the Red House.

Usage notes

The usage in sense 9 above, “to worsen a situation” is widespread but not wholly accepted. The original meaning of the word (see senses 4, 5 and 6 above) implies resolution of a problem, not worsening. It has been suggested (Fraser 1973) that the reverse usage arose by confusion with phrases such as compound interest.

Synonyms

• (to come to terms of agreement): agree
• (to put together): assemble, blend, combine, join, join together, mix, put together, unite
• (to add to): augment, increase
• (law: to settle by agreeing on less than the claim): settle
• (to compose): form, make up; see also Thesaurus:compose

Derived terms

• compoundable

Translations

References

Further reading

• Compound in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)

English

Etymology

From Middle English medle, from Anglo-Norman medlee, Old French medlee, from Late Latin misculata, feminine past participle of Vulgar Latin *miscul? (“to mix”). Compare meddle. Doublet of melee.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?m?dli/

Noun

medley (plural medleys)

1. (now rare, archaic) Combat, fighting; a battle. [from 14^thc.]
   • 1632, Xenophon, Philemon Holland (translator), Cyrupaedia

     For greater shields they have, than that they can either doe or see ought, and being raunged by hundreds no doubt they will hinder one another in the medley, except some very few

2. A collection or mixture of miscellaneous things. [from 17^thc.]

   a fruit medley

   • this medley of philosophy and war

   • 1692, William Walsh, Letters and Poems, Amorous and Gallant

     Love is a medley of endearments, jars, / Suspicions, reconcilements, wars.

3. (music) A collection of related songs played or mixed together as a single piece. [from 17^thc.]

   They played a medley of favorite folk songs as an encore.

4. (swimming) A competitive swimming event that combines the four strokes of butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle. [from 20th c.]
5. A cloth of mixed colours.
   • 1631, Thomas Fuller, Comment on Ruth , Chapter 1, verses 9, 10, 11

     Otherwise , as our Saviour noteth , when the old Cloth was joyned to the new , it made no good medley , but the Rent was made the wors

Synonyms

• mashup

Related terms

• meddle
• melee

Translations

Verb

medley (third-person singular simple present medleys, present participle medleying, simple past and past participle medleyed)

1. (music) To combine, to form a medley.

Anagrams

• yelmed

Danish

Etymology

Borrowed from English medley.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /m?dli/, [?m?d?li]

Noun

medley n (singular definite medleyet, plural indefinite medleyer)

1. medley (of songs; swimming event)

Inflection

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from English medley.

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: med?ley

Noun

medley m (plural medleys, diminutive medleytje n)

1. several songs strung together.

Synonyms

• potpourri

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from English medley. Doublet of mezclada.

Noun

medley m (plural medleys)

1. medley (songs)

Swedish

Etymology

Borrowed from English medley.

Noun

medley n

1. medley (songs)