com·pass (kŭḿpəs, kŏḿ-)

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[Middle English compas, circle, compass, from Old French, from compasser, to measure, from Vulgar Latin* compassāre, to pace off, Latin com-, com-, + Latin passus, step; see pace¹.]

noun 

1. 1. A device used to determine geographic direction, usually consisting of a magnetic needle or needles horizontally mounted or suspended and free to pivot until aligned with the earth's magnetic field.
   2. Another device, such as a radio compass or a gyrocompass, used for determining geographic direction.
2. A V-shaped device for describing circles or circular arcs and for taking measurements, consisting of a pair of rigid, end-hinged legs, one of which is equipped with a pen, pencil, or other marker and the other with a sharp point providing a pivot about which the drawing leg is turned. Also called pair of compasses
3. 1. An enclosing line or boundary; a circumference: outside the compass of the fence. See synonyms at circumference
   2. A restricted space or area: four huge crates within the compass of the elevator.
   3. Range or scope, as of understanding, perception, or authority: “Lacking a coherent intellectual and moral commitment, was forced to find his compass in personal experience” (Doris Kearns Goodwin) See synonyms at range
4. Music See range

transitive verb: -passed, -pass·ing, -pass·es. 

1. To make a circuit of; circle: The sailboat compassed the island.
2. To surround; encircle. See synonyms at surround
3. To understand; comprehend.
4. To succeed in carrying out; accomplish. See synonyms at reach
5. To scheme; plot.

adjective 

1. Forming a curved configuration.
2. Semicircular. Used of bow windows.

derivatives

coḿpass·a·ble

adjective

range (rānj)

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[Middle English, row, rank, from Old French, from rangier, to put in a row, from rang, reng, line, of Germanic origin.]

noun 

1. 1. Extent of perception, knowledge, experience, or ability.
   2. The area or sphere in which an activity takes place.
   3. The full extent covered: within the range of possibilities.
2. 1. An amount or extent of variation: a wide price range.
   2. Music The gamut of tones that a voice or instrument is capable of producing. Also called compass
3. 1. The maximum extent or distance limiting operation, action, or effectiveness, as of a projectile, aircraft, radio signal, or sound.
   2. The maximum distance that can be covered by a vehicle with a specified payload before its fuel supply is exhausted.
   3. The distance between a projectile weapon and its target.
4. A place equipped for practice in shooting at targets.
5. Aerospace A testing area at which rockets and missiles are launched and tracked.
6. An extensive area of open land on which livestock wander and graze.
7. The geographic region in which a plant or animal normally lives or grows.
8. The act of wandering or roaming over a large area.
9. Mathematics The set of all values a given function may take on.
10. Statistics The difference or interval between the smallest and largest values in a frequency distribution.
11. A class, rank, or order: The candidate had broad support from the lower ranges of the party.
12. An extended group or series, especially a row or chain of mountains.
13. One of a series of double-faced bookcases in a library stack room.
14. A north-south strip of townships, each six miles square, numbered east and west from a specified meridian in a U.S. public land survey.
15. A stove with spaces for cooking a number of things at the same time.

verb: ranged, rang·ing, rang·es. 

transitive verb 

1. To arrange or dispose in a particular order, especially in rows or lines.
2. To assign to a particular category; classify.
3. To align (a gun, for example) with a target.
4. 1. To determine the distance of (a target).
   2. To be capable of reaching (a maximum distance).
5. To pass over or through (an area or region).
6. To turn (livestock) onto an extensive area of open land for grazing.
7. Nautical To uncoil (an anchor cable) on deck so the anchor may descend easily.

intransitive verb 

1. To vary within specified limits: ages that ranged from two to five.
2. To extend in a particular direction: a river that ranges to the east.
3. To extend or lie in the same direction: “Whatsoever comes athwart his affection ranges evenly with mine” (Shakespeare)
4. To pass over or through an area or region in or as if in exploration.
5. To wander freely; roam.
6. To live or grow within a particular region.

synonyms:

range, ambit, compass, orbit, purview, reach, scope, sweep These nouns denote an area within which something acts, operates, or has power or control: the range of a nuclear missile; the ambit of municipal legislation; information within the compass of the article; countries within the political orbit of a world power; regulations under the government's purview; outside the reach of the law; issues within the scope of an investigation; outside the sweep of federal authority.

See also: wander