compass

com|pass [ˈkʌmpəs] n

[Date: 1300-1400; : Old French; Origin: compas 'measure, circle, compass', from compasser 'to measure', from Vulgar Latin compassare 'to measure by walking', from Latin com- ( COM-) + passus ( PACE¹)]

1.)

an instrument that shows directions and has a needle that always points north

▪ a map and compass

compass points/points of the compass

(=the marks on a compass that show you north, south, east, west etc)

↑point, ↑compass

2.) also compasses

a V-shaped instrument with one sharp point and a pen or pencil at the other end, used for drawing circles or measuring distances on maps

3.) [U] formal

the area or range of subjects that someone is responsible for or that is discussed in a book

compass of

▪ Within the brief compass of a single page, the author covers most of the major points.