Library / English Dictionary

COMPROMISE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A middle way between two extremes

Synonyms:

compromise; via media

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

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

Example:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

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)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

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 2

Meaning:

Make a compromise; arrive at a compromise

Example:

nobody will get everything he wants; we all must compromise

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

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 3

Meaning:

Expose or make liable to danger, suspicion, or disrepute

Example:

The nuclear secrets of the state were compromised by the spy

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

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

Credits

 Context examples: 

Elective procedures can be deferred without increased risk of compromised outcome.

(Elective Surgical Procedure, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

Issue associated with the application of a force either internal or external to the device that compromises the flow of fluid or gas.

(Medical Device Pressure Issue, Food and Drug Administration)

Without E1B function, virus production is compromised due to the premature death of the host cell.

(E1B Protein, NCI Thesaurus)

Reports related to the outer, protective wrapping of a device (e.g. a broken seal or ripping (compromised), lack of correct contents).

(Device Packaging Problem Evaluation Result, Food and Drug Administration)

Infectious agents, which while normally present but remaining benign under the control of the immune system, become virulent and pathogenic in immune-compromised hosts (i.e when they get the opportunity to become infectious).

(Agents of Opportunistic Infection, NCI Thesaurus)

As a result, cell wall integrity is compromised and cell lysis may follow.

(Carbenicillin Indanyl Sodium, NCI Thesaurus)

D-methionine formulation MRX-1024 may selectively protect the oral mucosa from the toxic effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy without compromising antitumor activity.

(D-methionine Formulation MRX-1024, NCI Thesaurus)

Crookes and Wallace ranged up on the opposing side, while Sir Oliver Lodge attempted to formulate a compromise that would jibe with his particular cosmic theories.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

We made a compromise of everything.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

She compromised, however, by taking upon herself the lighter labours of cooking and gathering driftwood and moss for our winter’s supply.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)