compact
gb/kˈɑmpækt/ us/kˈɑmpækt/
A2
English
~ 3100
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Small and neatly packed
Small and using little space, with things close together.
Usage pattern:
a compact [object/building/car]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'compact' with 'concise' when talking about physical objects; 'concise' is for language, not size.
Synonyms
small (General word for not large; less emphasis on density or efficiency.)
|
concise (Used for language or writing; focuses on brevity rather than physical size.)
Antonyms
bulky (Large and taking up a lot of space; the opposite of compact in physical terms.)
Collocations
compact car
|compact design
|compact camera
|compact space
|compact layout
Themes
daily life
|design
|technology
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The apartment is compact but very comfortable.
- She bought a compact car to make parking easier.
- The device has a compact design that fits in your pocket.
- This compact suitcase can hold enough for a week-long trip.
- We need a more compact layout for the office.
Learner examples
- My phone is small and compact.
- The kitchen is compact but nice.
- He drives a compact car.
- This box is compact and light.
- The hotel room is compact but clean.
Noun
A2
entity
2
Small makeup case with mirror
A small case with face powder and a mirror for makeup.
Synonyms
powder case (Less common term; same object.)
Collocations
powder compact
|open a compact
|carry a compact
Themes
daily life
|fashion
|daily_life
Examples
- She pulled out her compact to fix her makeup.
- The compact slipped from her bag onto the floor.
- I need to buy a new powder compact.
Learner examples
- She has a small compact in her bag.
- I use my compact to look in the mirror.
- Her compact has red powder.
- I keep my compact in my pocket.
Noun
formal
B2
entity
3
Formal agreement or treaty
A formal written promise or agreement between people or groups.
Usage pattern:
a compact between [parties/countries]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'compact' with 'contact'; they are unrelated words.
Synonyms
agreement (General term; less formal than 'compact' in legal contexts.)
|
treaty (Specifically between governments; often broader in scope.)
Antonyms
disagreement (Lack of agreement or harmony.)
Collocations
sign a compact
|honor the compact
|enter into a compact
Themes
law
|politics
Examples
- The two states signed a compact on water rights.
- Under the compact, both nations agreed to reduce emissions.
- They formed a compact to share resources.
Learner examples
- The countries signed a compact.
- We made a compact to help each other.
- This compact is between two towns.
Verb
B2
action
4
Press together firmly
To press something so it takes less space and is more solid.
Usage pattern:
to compact [material/soil/snow]
Synonyms
compress (Emphasizes reduction in volume; broader usage beyond physical packing.)
|
pack (Focuses on putting things closely together, often into a container.)
Antonyms
loosen (Make less tight or dense.)
Collocations
compact soil
|compact snow
|compact garbage
Themes
construction
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Workers used a machine to compact the soil.
- You should compact the garbage before putting it in the bin.
- Snow was compacted under the weight of the skis.
Learner examples
- They compact the soil before building.
- Please compact the trash in the bin.
- I will compact the snow for the path.
Grammar
Dictionary form
compact
IPA
GB/kˈɑmpækt/
US/kˈɑmpækt/
Syllables & stress
com - pact (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (com)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: compact
Noun
- Base: compact
- Plural: compacts
Verb
- Base: compact
- 3rd Person Singular: compacts
- Present Participle: compacting
- Past: compacted
Word family
Forms
compacts
noun
compacting
verb
compacted
verb
Core family
compactly
adverb
compactness
noun
Related words
compaction
noun
compactor
noun
Expressions
compact disc
1/kˈɑmpækt dˈɪsk/
fixed phrase
Small optical storage disc
A small round disc that stores music or data for computers and players.
Examples
- I still have my old collection of compact discs.
- I still have my old music on compact discs.
- Compact discs were popular before music streaming.
- The software comes on a compact disc.