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compounds
In a scientific sense, this word evokes a feeling of synthesis and stability, where individual parts lose their original identity to create something entirely new. It suggests a precise, locked-in structure that requires a chemical reaction to break apart.
When used in social or financial contexts, the word carries a heavy, additive weight. It describes a snowball effect where layers of difficulty or value pile up on top of each other, creating a momentum that is difficult to stop or reverse.
Countable when referring to a specific chemical substance or a fenced area of buildings. Uncountable when referring to the general process of compounding interest or adding to a problem.
Meanings
A substance formed from two or more elements chemically bonded together.
The chemist analyzed several organic compounds.
An enclosed area containing a group of buildings, often fenced or guarded.
The embassy compound is heavily fortified.
Phrasal Verbs
compound with
to combine or merge with another element or factor to create a combined effect
The high humidity compounds with the heat to make the weather unbearable.