different between compound vs variety

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

Alternative forms

• variëty (rare)

Etymology

From Middle French varieté, from Latin variet?s (“difference, diversity”), from varius (“different, various”); see various. Displaced native Old English misl?cnes.

Pronunciation

• enPR: v?-r???-t?, IPA^(key): /v???a?.?.ti/
• Rhymes: -a??ti
• Hyphenation: va?ri?e?ty

Noun

variety (countable and uncountable, plural varieties)

1. The quality of being varied; diversity.

   Antonym: sameness

2. A specific variation of something.
3. A number of different things.

   Synonyms: array, assortment

4. A state of constant change.
5. (taxonomy) A rank in a taxonomic classification, below species (infraspecific), either below subspecies (subspecific) or ranked comparably therewith.
6. (cybernetics) The total number of distinct states of a system.
7. (cybernetics) Logarithm of the base 2 of the total number of distinct states of a system.
8. (linguistics) A term used for a specific form of a language, neutral to whether that form is a dialect, accent, register, etc. and to its prestige level.
9. (algebra, universal algebra) An equational class; the class of all algebraic structures of a given signature, satisfying a given set of identities.
10. (algebraic geometry) An algebraic variety.
11. The kind of theatrical entertainment given in variety shows.
12. The production of, or performance in, variety shows.

Synonyms

• (quality of being varied): See also Thesaurus:nonuniformity
• (algebraic geometry): algebraic variety
• (universal algebra): equational class, equational variety, variety of algebras

Hyponyms

• (specific variation of something): cultivar

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

• species
• (cybernetics: logarithm): information entropy

Further reading

• variety in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• variety in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.