COMPROMISE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does compromise mean? 

• COMPROMISE (noun)
  The noun COMPROMISE has 2 senses:

1. a middle way between two extremes

2. an accommodation in which both sides make concessions

  Familiarity information: COMPROMISE used as a noun is rare.

• COMPROMISE (verb)
  The verb COMPROMISE has 3 senses:

1. make a compromise; arrive at a compromise

2. settle by concession

3. expose or make liable to danger, suspicion, or disrepute

  Familiarity information: COMPROMISE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• COMPROMISE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A middle way between two extremes

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

compromise; via media

Hypernyms ("compromise" is a kind of...):

cooperation (joint operation or action)

Derivation:

compromise (settle by concession)

compromise (make a compromise; arrive at a compromise)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An accommodation in which both sides make concessions

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

the newly elected congressmen rejected a compromise because they considered it 'business as usual'

Hypernyms ("compromise" is a kind of...):

accommodation (a settlement of differences)

Instance hyponyms:

Missouri Compromise (an agreement in 1820 between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the United States concerning the extension of slavery into new territories)

Derivation:

compromise (settle by concession)

compromise (make a compromise; arrive at a compromise)

• COMPROMISE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they compromise    ... he / she / it compromises   
Past simple: compromised   
Past participle: compromised   
-ing form: compromising   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make a compromise; arrive at a compromise

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

nobody will get everything he wants; we all must compromise

Hypernyms (to "compromise" is one way to...):

agree (achieve harmony of opinion, feeling, or purpose)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "compromise"):

whore (compromise oneself for money or other gains)

give and take (make mutual concessions)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

compromise (a middle way between two extremes)

compromise (an accommodation in which both sides make concessions)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Settle by concession

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "compromise" is one way to...):

determine; settle; square off; square up (settle conclusively; come to terms)

"Compromise" entails doing...:

agree; concord; concur; hold (be in accord; be in agreement)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

compromise (a middle way between two extremes)

compromise (an accommodation in which both sides make concessions)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Expose or make liable to danger, suspicion, or disrepute

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

The nuclear secrets of the state were compromised by the spy

Hypernyms (to "compromise" is one way to...):

endanger; expose; peril; queer; scupper (put in a dangerous, disadvantageous, or difficult position)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

 Context examples 

If you want to offer what you feel is a fair compromise, and at the same time save you future legal fees, then tender an offer.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

After concluding that these particles did not compromise the spacecraft's safety, the mission began dedicated observations in order to fully document the activity.

(NASA's OSIRIS-REx Explains Bennu Mystery Particles, NASA)

SiRNA molecules can be modified to make them more stable, but this compromises their ability to knock down the target genes.

(Nanoparticles used to transport anti-cancer agent to cells, University of Cambridge)

Myrna Bonaldo, head of the IOC Laboratory for Flavivirus Molecular Biology and another research coordinator, dismissed any possibility that the mutation may compromise the effectiveness of the vaccine used against yellow fever.

(Brazil scientists find mutations in yellow fever virus, Agência Brasil)

Thus, by the great friendship of the secretary, the whole affair was compromised.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

And yet you compromise me by coming here and so showing that there are business relations between us.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and is now desirous of getting those letters back.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

However, if the skin barrier is broken, or the immune system compromised, these colonizing bacteria can cause serious infections.

(Study finds probiotic Bacillus eliminates Staphylococcus bacteria, National Institutes of Health)

The findings suggest that cardiac lipid overload disrupts normal mitochondrial structure, which may impair energy production and compromise heart function.

(Excess Fat Disrupts Heart Cell's Energy System, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Econazole compromises the integrity of fungal cell wall through inhibiting 14-alpha demethylase, which catalyzes conversion of lanosterol to ergosterol, an essential component of the fungal cell wall.

(Econazole, NCI Thesaurus)