Compass vs. Astrolabe

Compassnoun

A magnetic or electronic device used to determine the cardinal directions (usually magnetic or true north).

Astrolabenoun

An astronomical and navigational instrument for gauging the altitude of the Sun and stars.

Compassnoun

A pair of compasses (a device used to draw an arc or circle).

Astrolabenoun

An instrument for observing or showing the positions of the stars. It is now disused.

Compassnoun

(music) The range of notes of a musical instrument or voice.

Astrolabenoun

A stereographic projection of the sphere on the plane of a great circle, as the equator, or a meridian; a planisphere.

Compassnoun

(obsolete) A space within limits; an area.

Astrolabenoun

an early form of sextant

Compassnoun

(obsolete) An enclosing limit; a boundary, a circumference.

‘within the compass of an encircling wall’;

Astrolabe

An astrolabe (Ancient Greek: ἀστρολάβος astrolabos; Arabic: ٱلأَسْطُرلاب‎ al-Asturlāb; Persian: ستاره‌یاب‎ Setāreyāb) is an ancient astronomical instrument that was a handheld model of the universe. Its various functions also make it an elaborate inclinometer and an analogue calculation device capable of working out several kinds of problems in astronomy.

Compassnoun

Moderate bounds, limits of truth; moderation; due limits; used with within.

Compassnoun

(archaic) scope.

Compassnoun

(obsolete) A passing round; circuit; circuitous course.

Compassverb

To surround; to encircle; to environ; to stretch round.

Compassverb

To go about or round entirely; to traverse.

Compassverb

(dated) To accomplish; to reach; to achieve; to obtain.

Compassverb

(dated) To plot; to scheme (against someone).

Compassadverb

(obsolete) In a circuit; round about.

Compassnoun

A passing round; circuit; circuitous course.

‘They fetched a compass of seven day's journey.’; ‘This day I breathed first; time is come round,And where I did begin, there shall I end;My life is run his compass.’;

Compassnoun

An inclosing limit; boundary; circumference; as, within the compass of an encircling wall.

Compassnoun

An inclosed space; an area; extent.

‘Their wisdom . . . lies in a very narrow compass.’;

Compassnoun

Extent; reach; sweep; capacity; sphere; as, the compass of his eye; the compass of imagination.

‘The compass of his argument.’;

Compassnoun

Moderate bounds, limits of truth; moderation; due limits; - used with within.

‘In two hundred years before (I speak within compass), no such commission had been executed.’;

Compassnoun

The range of notes, or tones, within the capacity of a voice or instrument.

‘You would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass.’;

Compassnoun

An instrument for determining directions upon the earth's surface by means of a magnetized bar or needle turning freely upon a pivot and pointing in a northerly and southerly direction.

‘He that first discovered the use of the compass did more for the supplying and increase of useful commodities than those who built workhouses.’;

Compassnoun

A pair of compasses.

‘To fix one foot of their compass wherever they please.’;

Compassnoun

A circle; a continent.

‘The tryne compas [the threefold world containing earth, sea, and heaven. Skeat.]’; ‘Its leaves are turned to the north as true as the magnet:This is the compass flower.’;

Compassverb

To go about or entirely round; to make the circuit of.

‘Ye shall compass the city seven times.’; ‘We the globe can compass soon.’;

Compassverb

To inclose on all sides; to surround; to encircle; to environ; to invest; to besiege; - used with about, round, around, and round about.

‘With terrors and with clamors compassed round.’; ‘Now all the blessingsOf a glad father compass thee about.’; ‘Thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round.’;

Compassverb

To reach round; to circumvent; to get within one's power; to obtain; to accomplish.

‘If I can check my erring love, I will:If not, to compass her I'll use my skill.’; ‘How can you hope to compass your designs?’;

Compassverb

To curve; to bend into a circular form.

Compassverb

To purpose; to intend; to imagine; to plot.

‘Compassing and imagining the death of the king are synonymous terms; compassing signifying the purpose or design of the mind or will, and not, as in common speech, the carrying such design to effect.’;

Compassnoun

navigational instrument for finding directions

Compassnoun

an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control:

‘the range of a supersonic jet’; ‘the ambit of municipal legislation’; ‘within the compass of this article’; ‘within the scope of an investigation’; ‘outside the reach of the law’; ‘in the political orbit of a world power’;

Compassnoun

the limit of capability;

‘within the compass of education’;

Compassnoun

drafting instrument used for drawing circles

Compassverb

bring about; accomplish;

‘This writer attempts more than his talents can compass’;

Compassverb

travel around, either by plane or ship;

‘We compassed the earth’;

Compassverb

get the meaning of something;

‘Do you comprehend the meaning of this letter?’;

Compassnoun

an instrument containing a magnetized pointer which shows the direction of magnetic north and bearings from it

‘walkers should be equipped with a map and compass’; ‘a magnetic compass’; ‘Crewe was ideally placed on the rail network, with connections running to all points of the compass’;

Compassnoun

an instrument for drawing circles and arcs and measuring distances between points, consisting of two arms linked by a movable joint, one arm ending in a point and the other usually carrying a pencil or pen

‘a regular heptagon cannot be constructed accurately with only ruler and compass’;

Compassnoun

the range or scope of something

‘the event had political repercussions which are beyond the compass of this book’; ‘goods and services which fall within the compass of the free market’;

Compassnoun

the enclosing limits of an area

‘this region had within its compass many types of agriculture’;

Compassnoun

the range of notes that can be produced by a voice or a musical instrument

‘the cellos were playing in a rather sombre part of their compass’;

Compassverb

go round (something) in a circular course

‘the ship wherein Magellan compassed the world’;

Compassverb

surround or hem in on all sides

‘we were compassed round by a thick fog’;

Compassverb

contrive to accomplish (something)

‘he compassed his end only by the exercise of violence’;

Compass

A compass is a device that shows the cardinal directions used for navigation and geographic orientation. It commonly consists of a magnetized needle or other element, such as a compass card or compass rose, which can pivot to align itself with magnetic north.