com|pact

com|pact¹ «adjective. kuhm PAKT, KOM pakt; verb. KUHM|PAKT; noun. KOM pakt», adjective, verb, noun.

–adj.

1. closely and firmly packed together; closely joined: »

The leaves of a cabbage are folded into a compact head.

SYNONYM(S): solid, dense, firm.

2. having the parts neatly or tightly arranged within a small space; not sprawling or scattered: »

a compact community, a compact portable TV set.

3. Figurative. using few words: brief and well organized: »

News reporters must learn to write compact sentences.

SYNONYM(S): terse, pithy, concise.

4. composed or made (of): »

It was a tale compact of moon-struck fancy.

–v.t.

to pack closely and firmly together; join closely; compress: »

He compacted his clothes in the suitcase by sitting on it.

SYNONYM(S): consolidate.

1. to make by putting firmly together: »

The saleslady compacted a neat package out of all my wife's purchases.

2. to condense: »

to compact several bundles into the space for one.

–n.

1. = compact car. (Cf. ↑compact car)

2. a small case containing face powder or rouge.

╂[< Latin compāctus, past participle of compingere to confine < com- together + panre fasten]

–com|pact´er,

–com|pac´tor, noun.

–com|pact´ly, adverb.

–com|pact´ness, noun.

com|pact² «KOM pakt», noun.

an agreement; a contract between parties: »

The United Nations is the result of a compact among the great nations of the world.

╂[< Latin compactum, neuter past participle of compacīscī < com- together + pacīscī make an agreement, contract]