Word Meanings - COMPASSES - Book Publishers vocabulary database

An instrument for describing circles, measuring figures, etc., consisting of two, or more, pointed branches, or legs, usually joined at the top by a rivet on which they move. Note: The compasses for drawing circles have adjustable pen points,

Additional info about word: COMPASSES

An instrument for describing circles, measuring figures, etc., consisting of two, or more, pointed branches, or legs, usually joined at the top by a rivet on which they move. Note: The compasses for drawing circles have adjustable pen points, pencil points, etc.; those used for measuring without adjustable points are generally called dividers. See Dividers. Bow compasses. See Bow-compass. -- Caliber compasses, Caliper compasses. See Calipers. -- Proportional, Triangular, etc., compasses. See under Proportional, etc.

Related words: (words related to COMPASSES)

• DRAWER
  An under-garment worn on the lower limbs. Chest of drawers. See under Chest. (more info) 1. One who, or that which, draws; as: One who draws liquor for guests; a waiter in a taproom. Shak. One who delineates or depicts; a draughtsman; as, a good
• DRAWCANSIR
  A blustering, bullying fellow; a pot-valiant braggart; a bully. The leader was of an ugly look and gigantic stature; he acted like a drawcansir, sparing neither friend nor foe. Addison.
• INSTRUMENTAL
  Pertaining to, made by, or prepared for, an instrument, esp. a musical instrument; as, instrumental music, distinguished from vocal music. "He defended the use of instrumental music in public worship." Macaulay. Sweet voices mix'd with instrumental
• CONSISTENTLY
  In a consistent manner.
• DRAW-CUT
  A single cut with a knife.
• JOINTWEED
  A slender, nearly leafless, American herb (Polygonum articulatum), with jointed spikes of small flowers.
• DRAWEE
  The person on whom an order or bill of exchange is drawn; -- the correlative of drawer.
• MEASURING
  Used in, or adapted for, ascertaining measurements, or dividing by measure. Measuring faucet, a faucet which permits only a given quantity of liquid to pass each time it is opened, or one by means of which the liquid which passes can be measured.
• POINT SWITCH
  A switch made up of a rail from each track, both rails being tapered far back and connected to throw alongside the through rail of either track.
• DRAWROD
  A rod which unites the drawgear at opposite ends of the car, and bears the pull required to draw the train.
• DRAWBAR
  An openmouthed bar at the end of a car, which receives a coupling link and pin by which the car is drawn. It is usually provided with a spring to give elasticity to the connection between the cars of a train. A bar of iron with an eye at each end,
• CONSIST
  1. To stand firm; to be in a fixed or permanent state, as a body composed of parts in union or connection; to hold together; to be; to exist; to subsist; to be supported and maintained. He is before all things, and by him all things consist. Col.
• POINTLESSLY
  Without point.
• POINT-DEVICE; POINT-DEVISE
  Uncommonly nice and exact; precise; particular. You are rather point-devise in your accouterments. Shak. Thus he grew up, in logic point-devise, Perfect in grammar, and in rhetoric nice. Longfellow. (more info) + point point, condition + devis
• DRAW
  draga, Dan. drage to draw, carry, and prob. to OS. dragan to bear, carry, D. dragen, G. tragen, Goth. dragan; cf. Skr. dhraj to move along, glide; and perh. akin to Skr. dhar to hold, bear. Drag, Dray a 1. To cause to move continuously by force
• DRAWLINK
  See
• CONSISTORIAN
  Pertaining to a Presbyterian consistory; -- a contemptuous term of 17th century controversy. You fall next on the consistorian schismatics; for so you call Presbyterians. Milton.
• RIVETER
  One who rivets.
• POINTAL
  The pistil of a plant. 2. A kind of pencil or style used with the tablets of the Middle Ages. "A pair of tablets . . . and a pointel." Chaucer.
• POINTED
  1. Sharp; having a sharp point; as, a pointed rock. 2. Characterized by sharpness, directness, or pithiness of expression; terse; epigrammatic; especially, directed to a particular person or thing. His moral pleases, not his pointed wit. Pope.
• UNJOINT
  To disjoint.
• STRAIGHT-JOINT
  Having straight joints. Specifically: Applied to a floor the boards of which are so laid that the joints form a continued line transverse to the length of the boards themselves. Brandle & C. In the United States, applied to planking or flooring
• COVER-POINT
  The fielder in the games of cricket and lacrosse who supports "point."
• DISJOINT
  Disjointed; unconnected; -- opposed to conjoint. Milton.
• IMMEASURABLY
  In an immeasurable manner or degree. "Immeasurably distant." Wordsworth.
• IMMEASURED
  Immeasurable. Spenser.
• UNDRAW
  To draw aside or open; to draw back. Angels undrew the curtain of the throne. Young.
• FINEDRAW
  To sew up, so nicely that the seam is not perceived; to renter. Marryat.
• ADMEASURE
  To determine the proper share of, or the proper apportionment; as, to admeasure dower; to admeasure common of pasture. Blackstone. 2. The measure of a thing; dimensions; size. (more info) 1. To measure.
• UNJOINTED
  Having no joint or articulation; as, an unjointed stem. (more info) 1. Disjointed; unconnected; hence, incoherent. Shak. 2. Etym: