Compass vs. Spectrum

Compassnoun

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

Spectrumnoun

A range; a continuous, infinite, one-dimensional set, possibly bounded by extremes.

Compassnoun

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

Spectrumnoun

Specifically, a range of colours representing light (electromagnetic radiation) of contiguous frequencies; hence electromagnetic spectrum, visible spectrum, ultraviolet spectrum, etc.

Compassnoun

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

Spectrumnoun

The autism spectrum.

Compassnoun

(obsolete) A space within limits; an area.

Spectrumnoun

(chemistry) The pattern of absorption or emission of radiation produced by a substance when subjected to energy (radiation, heat, electricity, etc.).

Compassnoun

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

‘within the compass of an encircling wall’;

Spectrumnoun

The set of eigenvalues of a matrix.

Compassnoun

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

Spectrumnoun

Of a bounded linear operator A, the set of scalar values λ such that the operator A—λI, where I denotes the identity operator, does not have a bounded inverse; intended as a generalisation of the linear algebra sense.

Compassnoun

(archaic) scope.

Spectrumnoun

The set, denoted Spec(R), of all prime ideals of a given ring R, commonly augmented with a Zariski topology and considered as a topological space.

‘Stone space’;

Compassnoun

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

Spectrumnoun

(obsolete) Specter, apparition.

Compassverb

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

Spectrumnoun

The image of something seen that persists after the eyes are closed.

Compassverb

To go about or round entirely; to traverse.

Spectrumnoun

An apparition; a specter.

Compassverb

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

Spectrumnoun

The several colored and other rays of which light is composed, separated by the refraction of a prism or other means, and observed or studied either as spread out on a screen, by direct vision, by photography, or otherwise. See Illust. of Light, and Spectroscope.

Compassverb

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

Spectrumnoun

an ordered array of the components of an emission or wave

Compassadverb

(obsolete) In a circuit; round about.

Spectrumnoun

broad range of related values or qualities or ideas or activities

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.’;

Spectrum

A spectrum (plural spectra or spectrums) is a condition that is not limited to a specific set of values but can vary, without steps, across a continuum. The word was first used scientifically in optics to describe the rainbow of colors in visible light after passing through a prism.

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.