Reading Theme:
Compound Meaning: Usage, Examples, and Common Mistakes (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：make worse (compound)
compound
/kəmˈpaʊnd/
vt.
To make a problem, situation, or illness worse.
make worse
➕
/meɪk wɜːrs/
vt.
To add to or increase the severity of a problem, situation, or illness, making it more serious or difficult to resolve.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'componere': com- 'together' + ponere 'to place'. Literally 'to put together'.
💡 Mnemonic
Think 'com' (together) + 'pound' (to crush). When you crush problems together, they get worse or blend into a new mess.
📖 Example
Ignoring your cold and going out in the rain will only compound your illness.
If you ignore your cold and go out in the rain, it will only make your illness worse.
🔗 Collocations
compound a problem – make a problem worse
compound the difficulty – increase the level of difficulty
compound an error – make an error more serious by adding to it
🔄 Synonyms
aggravate (vt.) – To make a situation or condition more serious or severe.
exacerbate (vt.) – To make an already bad situation even worse.
intensify (vt.) – To increase the strength or severity of something.
🚫 Antonyms
alleviate (vt.) – To make a problem or pain less severe.
ameliorate (vt.) – To make a situation better or more tolerable.
mitigate (vt.) – To make less severe or serious.
🌱 Derivatives
compounding (adj.) – Making something worse or more intense.
compounded (adj.) – Made worse or more complicated by additional factors.
📖 Cultural Story
Originally from Latin 'componere', meaning 'to put together'. In English, the verb 'compound' developed dual senses: to combine ingredients (literal) and to worsen a situation (figurative, from 'adding to a debt' in finance).
Meaning 2：mix or combine (compound)
compound
/kəmˈpaʊnd/
vt.
To mix or combine things together to make something new.
mix or combine
➕
/mɪks ɔːr kəmˈbaɪn/
vt.
To mix or combine two or more substances, elements, or components together to form a new, unified whole, often with distinct properties.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
In the science lab, we learned how to compound two chemicals to create a safe cleaning solution.
In the science lab, we learned how to mix two chemicals together to create a safe cleaning solution.
🔗 Collocations
compound substances – mix chemicals or materials together
compound a formula – create a new formula by mixing ingredients
compound a drug – prepare a medication by mixing components
🔄 Synonyms
combine (vt.) – To bring two or more things together to form a single unit.
blend (vt.) – To mix different substances together smoothly.
amalgamate (vt.) – To combine or unite to form one structure or organization.
🚫 Antonyms
🌱 Derivatives
compound (n.) – A substance formed by chemical combination of two or more elements.
compounding (n.) – The process of mixing ingredients to create something new.
Wordbook
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