compact
compact — adjective
1. having parts that are placed very close to each other so that the whole thing is
having parts that are placed very close to each other so that the whole thing is small, neat, and uses space well — like a camera that fits in a pocket or soil that is pressed into a hard layer.
Theo bought a compact digital camera that fits easily into his jacket pocket.
collocation: compact [device] — small and portable
Heavy rain made the garden soil so compact that water could not drain through.
predicative use: soil becomes / is compact
A compact apartment in the city costs less to heat than a large suburban house.
The furniture arrived in a compact flat pack that I could carry up the stairs.
Narrow streets in the old town are lined with compact brick houses built close together.
- dense
focuses on how tightly packed the parts are, without the 'neat/tidy' nuance
- tight
suggests little or no empty space between parts; often used for fits or seals
- compressed
implies external pressure was applied to make something compact
用法筆記
Used both before a noun (a compact camera) and after a linking verb (the soil is compact). The meaning shifts slightly: before a noun it emphasises small size and efficient design; after a verb it emphasises density and firmness.
常見錯誤
compact — noun
1. a small flat container, usually round, that holds face powder and has a mirror i
a small flat container, usually round, that holds face powder and has a mirror inside — used by women to refresh their makeup when away from home.
Hana opened her compact and checked her reflection in the tiny mirror.
collocation: open / close a compact
The silver compact on the dressing table was a gift from her grandmother.
Beatriz pulled a small compact from her handbag and powdered her nose before the interview.
Antique compacts with floral designs are popular among collectors.
- powder case
more general; describes the object without being a specific brand or type
- makeup compact
slightly more specific; clarifies the type of compact
用法筆記
Usually refers to a powder compact used for cosmetic touch-ups. The word can also refer to similar small cases for pills or other items, but that use is uncommon.
2. a vehicle built in a reduced size that makes it suitable for city driving and gi
a vehicle built in a reduced size that makes it suitable for city driving and gives it good fuel economy.
A compact is easier to park on crowded city streets than a large SUV.
comparative: easier to [verb] ... than [alternative]
The rental agency gave us a compact because we asked for better fuel economy.
Priya drives a blue compact that she bought second-hand from a neighbour last year.
Compact cars usually cost less to insure than full-sized models.
- SUV
sport utility vehicle; much larger than a compact
- full-sized car
the largest standard car size category
用法筆記
Often used in car-rental and car-insurance contexts where vehicles are classified by size. In everyday speech people may say 'small car' more often than 'compact'.
3. a binding promise recorded on paper that commits nations, companies, or groups t
a binding promise recorded on paper that commits nations, companies, or groups to specific actions or rules.
The two nations signed a compact to cooperate on climate research and clean energy.
grammar pattern: compact + to-infinitive
Under the compact, each member state contributes the same amount to the fund.
preposition: under the compact
The company and its workers entered a compact that guaranteed fair wages and safe conditions.
Historians study the Mayflower Compact as an early model of democratic self-government.
- pact
very close in meaning; 'pact' is slightly more common for international agreements
- covenant
often carries religious or moral weight; stronger and more solemn than 'compact'
- treaty
specifically between nations; more formal and legally binding
- contract
used in business and legal contexts; more common than 'compact'
- breach
a violation of an agreement, treated as a noun
- disagreement
lack of consensus; the opposite of a reaching a compact
用法筆記
This is a formal or historical word. In everyday situations, 'agreement', 'deal', or 'contract' are more common. 'Compact' is used mainly for solemn promises between nations or in historical contexts.
常見錯誤
compact — verb
1. to press something such as waste, soil, or material into a smaller, denser, and
to press something such as waste, soil, or material into a smaller, denser, and more solid form by applying force.
The recycling machine compacts cardboard boxes into dense bales for transport.
transitive: compacts [object] into [result]
Workers use a heavy steamroller to compact the gravel on the new path.
Yusuf compacts used aluminium cans with a manual crusher before recycling them.
The snow on the trail was compacted by hikers into a hard icy surface.
用法筆記
Usually transitive — someone compacts something. The passive form (be compacted) is common, especially in descriptions of natural processes or construction work. The intransitive use ('the soil compacts over time') is rare in learner-level English.