compact

Word family

com·pact1 /kəmˈpækt, ˈkɒmpækt $ kəmˈpækt/ adjectiveadj

1 SMALLsmall, but arranged so that everything fits neatly into the space available – used to show approval 小巧便携的〔含褒义〕

The compact design of the machine allows it to be stored easily.

这台机器的设计小巧灵便，易于存放。

The students’ rooms were compact, with a desk, bed, and closet built in.

学生的房间很小巧，配有一张书桌、一张床和一个壁橱。

► see thesaurus at small

2 HARDpacked or put together firmly and closely 紧密的；密集的

The bushes grew in a compact mass.

灌木长成茂密的一片。

3 SMALLsmall, but solid and strong 矮小结实的，敦实的

a short compact-looking man

个子矮小、看上去很敦实的男子

—compactly adverbadv

—compactness noun [uncountableU]

Examples from the Corpus

compact• The apartment was ideal for the two of us - small but compact.• Official sketches show a small warren of rooms, lit by artificial lights and stuffed with compact biological systems.• I feel certain the purpose of the slimness stems from the natural instinct to shoal in a compact body.• a compact car• The compact circuit, purpose-built with the betting shop service in mind, has surprised owners Ladbrokes with its robust evening trade.• There is a compact dining area, which feels cozy rather than cramped.• It made compact discs easier to display.• The Federals, on the other hand, could look forward to operating on compact interior lines of communication.• It packs all its power into a compact, low-profile configuration - occupying 30% less desk space than comparable 486 systems.• Look for plants with healthy leaves and a compact shape.• Plus the most significant restyling since the Cherokee debuted as a compact sport utility vehicle in 1984.• The PowerShot is a compact unit that weighs less than 11 ounces and fits easily in your pocket.• The dormitory rooms are very compact, with a desk, bed, and closet built in.• It was similar to an indoor meeting because the stadium is compact, with the crowd close to all the action.

Related topics: Hair & beauty, Motor vehicles

com·pact2 /ˈkɒmpækt $ ˈkɑːm-/ noun [countableC]

1. DCBa small flat container with a mirror, containing powder for a woman’s face 〔化妆用的有镜〕粉饼盒

2. a compact camera 袖珍照相机

3. American EnglishAmETTC a small car 小型汽车

4 formalAGREE an agreement between countries or people 〔国与国、人与人之间的〕协定

A compact was negotiated between the company and the union.

公司和工会商定了一份协议。

Examples from the Corpus

compact• a two-door compact• One tribe, the Hualapai, closed its casino last year but still has a gaming compact.• Opening her compact, she checked her appearance, and dabbed at her hair.• Claudel stooped, too, and was startled to see her brush a powder compact sideways, sending it under the cab.• So beware the curved top compacts.

com·pact3 /kəmˈpækt/ verb [transitiveT]

PRESSto press something together so that it becomes smaller or more solid 压紧，压实

compacted earth

压实的土壤

Examples from the Corpus

compact• It was compacted again and loaded into a trailer hauling 25 tons to the landfill.• The dirt trail has been compacted from years of use.• It compacts my spine, and yellow spots dance before my eyes.• Progressively increase the pressure to compact the surface.• It then swells-for the nuclear material is highly compacted within the sperm-and so becomes a pronucleus.

Origin compact1