Meaning & use

compass

noun·Everyday

An instrument with a magnetized needle that points north, used for finding direction.

See it in a sentence

The hikers relied on a compass after losing sight of the trail markers.

Sailors have used the compass for centuries to navigate open water.

A note on using this word

Compass can also mean the range or limits of something, as in 'within the compass of a single lifetime.'

Words with a similar meaning

navigation tool

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

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