Compound vs. Idiom — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Compound and Idiom
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Definitions
Compound
To combine so as to form a whole; mix
Tin was often compounded with lead to make pewter.
Idiom
An idiom is a phrase or expression that typically presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase; but some phrases become figurative idioms while retaining the literal meaning of the phrase. Categorized as formulaic language, an idiom's figurative meaning is different from the literal meaning.
Compound
To produce or create by combining two or more ingredients or parts; compose or make up
Pharmacists compounding prescriptions.
Idiom
A group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words (e.g. over the moon, see the light).
Compound
To settle (a debt, for example) by agreeing on an amount less than the claim; adjust.
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Idiom
A characteristic mode of expression in music or art
They were both working in a neo-impressionist idiom
Compound
To compute (interest) on the principal and accrued interest.
Idiom
A speech form or an expression of a given language that is peculiar to itself grammatically or cannot be understood from the individual meanings of its elements, as in keep tabs on.
Compound
To add to or intensify so as to make worse
"The university authorities ... compounded their crime in dismissing [the professor] by denying that their action ... reflected any abridgment of academic freedom" (John Kenneth Galbraith).
Idiom
The specific grammatical, syntactic, and structural character of a given language.
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Compound
To make worse by being an additional or intensifying factor
High winds compounded the difficulties of the firefighters.
Idiom
Regional speech or dialect.
Compound
To combine in or form a compound.
Idiom
A specialized vocabulary used by a group of people; jargon
Legal idiom.
Compound
To come to terms; agree.
Idiom
A style of artistic expression characteristic of a particular individual, school, period, or medium
The idiom of the French impressionists.
The punk rock idiom.
Compound
Consisting of two or more substances, ingredients, elements, or parts.
Idiom
A manner of speaking, a mode of expression peculiar to a language, language family, or group of people.
In English, idiom requires the indefinite article in a phrase such as "she's an engineer", whereas in Spanish, idiom forbids it.
Some of the usage prescriptions improved clarity and were kept; others that yielded discordant violations of idiom were eventually revised.
Compound
(Botany) Composed of more than one part
A compound pistil.
Idiom
(programming) A programming construct or phraseology that is characteristic of the language.
Compound
A combination of two or more elements or parts.
Idiom
A language or language variety; specifically, a restricted dialect used in a given historical period, context etc.
In the idiom of the day, they were sutlers, although today they'd probably be called vendors.
Compound
(Linguistics) A word that consists either of two or more elements that are independent words, such as loudspeaker, self-portrait, or high school, or of specially modified combining forms of words, such as Greek philosophia, from philo-, "loving," and sophia, "wisdom."
Idiom
An established phrasal expression whose meaning may not be deducible from the literal meanings of its component words.
She often spoke in idioms, pining for salad days and complaining about pots calling the kettle black.
Compound
(Chemistry) A pure, macroscopically homogeneous substance consisting of atoms or ions of two or more different elements in definite proportions that cannot be separated by physical means. A compound usually has properties unlike those of its constituent elements.
Idiom
An artistic style (for example, in art, architecture, or music); an instance of such a style.
The idiom of the expressionists
Compound
A building or buildings, especially a residence or group of residences, set off and enclosed by a barrier.
Idiom
The syntactical or structural form peculiar to any language; the genius or cast of a language.
Idiom may be employed loosely and figuratively as a synonym of language or dialect, but in its proper sense it signifies the totality of the general rules of construction which characterize the syntax of a particular language and distinguish it from other tongues.
By idiom is meant the use of words which is peculiar to a particular language.
He followed their language [the Latin], but did not comply with the idiom of ours.
Compound
An enclosed area used for confining prisoners of war.
Idiom
An expression conforming or appropriate to the peculiar structural form of a language.
Some that with care true eloquence shall teach,And to just idioms fix our doubtful speech.
Compound
An enclosure within which workers, prisoners, or soldiers are confined.
Idiom
A combination of words having a meaning peculiar to itself and not predictable as a combination of the meanings of the individual words, but sanctioned by usage; as, an idiomatic expression; less commonly, a single word used in a peculiar sense.
It is not by means of rules that such idioms as the following are made current: "I can make nothing of it." "He treats his subject home." Dryden. "It is that within us that makes for righteousness." M. Arnold.
Sometimes we identify the words with the object - though by courtesy of idiom rather than in strict propriety of language.
Compound
An enclosure for secure storage.
Idiom
The phrase forms peculiar to a particular author; as, written in his own idiom.
Every good writer has much idiom.
Compound
A group of buildings situated close together, e.g. for a school or block of offices.
Idiom
Dialect; a variant form of a language.
Compound
Anything made by combining several things.
Idiom
A manner of speaking that is natural to native speakers of a language
Compound
(chemistry) A substance formed by chemical bonding of two or more elements in definite proportions by weight.
Idiom
The usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people;
The immigrants spoke an odd dialect of English
He has a strong German accent
Compound
A substance made from any combination of ingredients.
Idiom
The style of a particular artist or school or movement;
An imaginative orchestral idiom
Compound
(linguistics) A lexeme that consists of more than one stem.
Idiom
An expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up
Compound
(linguistics) A lexeme that consists of more than one stem or an affix, e.g. bookshop, high school or non-standard.
Compound
(rail) A compound locomotive, a steam locomotive with both high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders.
Compound
Composed of elements; not simple.
A compound word
Compound
(math) Dealing with numbers of various denominations of quantity, or with processes more complex than the simple process.
Compound addition
Compound proportion
Compound
(music) An octave higher than originally (i.e. a compound major second is equivalent to a major ninth).
Compound
(transitive) To form (a resulting mixture) by combining different elements, ingredients, or parts; to mingle with something else.
To compound a medicine
Compound
To settle by agreeing on less than the claim, or on different terms than those stipulated.
To compound a debt
Compound
(transitive) To settle amicably; to adjust by agreement.
Compound
(intransitive) To come to terms of agreement; to settle by a compromise.
To compound with someone / for something
Compound
To compose; to constitute.
Compound
To increase in value with interest, where the interest is earned on both the principal sum and prior earned interest.
Compound
To worsen a situation.
Compound
Of a horse: to fail to maintain speed.
Compound
In the East Indies, an inclosure containing a house, outbuildings, etc.
Compound
That which is compounded or formed by the union or mixture of elements ingredients, or parts; a combination of simples; a compound word; the result of composition.
Rare compound of oddity, frolic, and fun.
When the word "bishopric" was first made, it was made as a compound.
Compound
A union of two or more ingredients in definite proportions by weight, so combined as to form a distinct substance; as, water is a compound of oxygen and hydrogen.
Compound
To form or make by combining different elements, ingredients, or parts; as, to compound a medicine.
Incapacitating him from successfully compounding a tale of this sort.
Compound
To put together, as elements, ingredients, or parts, in order to form a whole; to combine, mix, or unite.
We have the power of altering and compounding those images into all the varieties of picture.
Compound
To modify or change by combination with some other thing or part; to mingle with something else.
Only compound me with forgotten dust.
Compound
To compose; to constitute.
His pomp and all what state compounds.
Compound
To settle amicably; to adjust by agreement; to compromise; to discharge from obligation upon terms different from those which were stipulated; as, to compound a debt.
I pray, my lords, let me compound this strife.
Compound
To effect a composition; 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.
Here's a fellow will help you to-morrow; . . . compound with him by the year.
They were at last glad to compound for his bare commitment to the Tower.
Cornwall compounded to furnish ten oxen after Michaelmas for thirty pounds.
Compound for sins they are inclined toBy damning those they have no mind to.
Compound
Composed of two or more elements, ingredients, parts; produced by the union of several ingredients, parts, or things; composite; as, a compound word.
Compound substances are made up of two or more simple substances.
Compound
(chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight
Compound
A whole formed by a union of two or more elements or parts
Compound
An enclosure of residences and other building (especially in the Orient)
Compound
Make more intense, stronger, or more marked;
The efforts were intensified
Her rudeness intensified his dislike for her
Potsmokers claim it heightens their awareness
This event only deepened my convictions
Compound
Put or add together;
Combine resources
Compound
Calculate principal and interest
Compound
Create by mixing or combining
Compound
Combine so as to form a whole; mix;
Compound the ingredients
Compound
Of leaf shapes; of leaves composed of several similar parts or lobes
Compound
Consisting of two or more substances or ingredients or elements or parts;
Soap is a compound substance
Housetop is a compound word
A blackberry is a compound fruit
Compound
Composed of many distinct individuals united to form a whole or colony;
Coral is a colonial organism
