compass
nounmasculine/kõˈpasu/medium
com·pa·so
Definitions
1Instrument used to draw circles or arcs and to measure distances between points, typically consisting of two hinged legs.
The architect used a compass to draw a perfect circle.
The school compass is a basic geometry tool.
Common collocations
precision compassschool compassdraw with a compasslegs of a compass
2In music, a regular division of time, represented by a unit of measurement that organizes the pulse and duration of notes.
The music had a four-beat measure.
The conductor marked the measure with his baton.
Common collocations
musical measurefour-beat measuremark the measurechange the measure
Etymology
Do latim 'compassus', de 'com-' (com) + 'passus' (passo).