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Glite Dictionary
compact mirror

compact mirror

1 2.4
A small folding mirror in a case that you carry to check your face
  • noun
  • /ˈkɒmpækt ˈmɪrər/
translation icon : espejo compacto
  • She fumbles in her purse, takes out a compact mirror, and checks her face.
  • lipstick and a compact mirror

Examples

  • Before going out, he always checks his hair in a compact mirror.

  • She flipped open her compact mirror to check her makeup before the party.

  • I looked at myself one last time in the compact mirror.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • A compact mirror, where we see eye shadow being applied to a beautiful brown eye.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • I sat between her legs and looked into a compact mirror.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • She flipped open a compact mirror and rubbed lipstick over her lips.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • She checks herself in a compact mirror, smooths her hair, and licks the lipstick off her teeth.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • The girls gathered cigarettes and bags, jangled charm bracelets, and checked for lipstick on their teeth in compact mirrors.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • The small compact mirror fits perfectly in her handbag, making it easy to carry.

Synonyms

hand mirror
vscompact mirror
3 2.1

A small mirror with a handle that you hold to see your face

is carried in a case inside a bag rather than held while using
pocket mirror
vscompact mirror
1 2.5

A small mirror people carry in a bag or pocket to check their appearance

is usually stored inside a round folding case rather than carried loose

Antonyms

full-length
28 3.4

Not shortened, showing the whole film or dress

How Portable

compact mirror
1 2.4
hand mirror
3 2.1

Surface Forms

compact mirror singular
compact mirrors plural

Morphology

compact + mirror

The meaning 'a small, portable mirror' is directly and compositionally derived from 'compact' (small / handheld case) + 'mirror' (reflective surface). This is a straightforward noun–noun compound following common cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Compact mirror comes from the small compact case that used to hold face powder and a mirror, a tiny folding box people could carry in a bag. So the name now means 'a small, portable mirror' you can easily take with you.