compound
Meaning of compound: A compound is a substance formed when two or more elements bond chemically in a fixed ratio, producing distinct new properties.
Definition of compound
A compound is a chemical substance formed when two or more different elements combine in a fixed proportion, held together by chemical bonds. The resulting compound has its own distinct set of properties that generally differ from the properties of the individual elements that formed it, since combining the elements creates an entirely new substance rather than simply a mixture of the originals.
Water, formed from hydrogen and oxygen, and carbon dioxide, formed from carbon and oxygen, are common examples of compounds encountered throughout biology and medicine. Compounds can be simple, involving only two elements, or considerably more complex, as with many of the large molecules that make up living organisms.
The word compound is also used in a related but distinct sense in pharmacy, describing a medication prepared by combining or altering ingredients to create a customized formulation for a particular patient, a specialized meaning separate from the general chemical definition.
Used in a sentence
The laboratory analysis identified the presence of a specific organic compound in the sample.
Good to know
The word compound describes a general chemistry concept in most scientific contexts, while in pharmacy it separately refers to a customized, individually prepared medication, so the surrounding context clarifies which sense applies.
Word origin
Where “compound” comes from
Formed from Latin componere, meaning to put together, from com-, meaning together, and ponere, meaning to place.