Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
compass point

compass point

1 3.6
A direction that a compass shows, like north or northeast
  • noun
  • /ˈkʌmpəs pɔɪnt/
translation icon : punto cardinal
  • From the initial act of putting pencil or compass point to paper, each act of geometry is charged with meaning.
  • two compass points

So you just look at your compass, your say we're going to go South SE to this compass point.

Examples

  • "The compass point," she laughed suddenly.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • You would put your after the square is drawn, set your compass point at A and open to the radius AC and you swing an arc down and you intersect.

  • The compass points in two directions.

    Academic text (1990)

  • She began to put it away, apparently had second thoughts, and tested each of the other compass points.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Nonetheless, the Moon is the most visible object in the night sky and might be used as a compass point in the same way as the Sun.

    Academic text (1995)

  • The compass points north.

    Your Highness (2011)

  • They each took a corner of the car, each tilted in different directions like compass points.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • She showed the compass points and the school's aspect, sunrise and sunset points at the solstices, and cutouts of the pint, quart, gallon, and liter.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • When navigating in the wilderness, it is essential to understand the different compass points to avoid getting lost.

  • He used the compass points to orient himself on the map while hiking through the mountains.

Synonyms

point
vscompass point
∞ 2.4

A unit that shows a score in a game

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
south
vscompass point
235 1.0

The direction toward the bottom of a map

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
north
vscompass point
209 1.0

The direction on a compass at the top of most maps

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
east
vscompass point
109 1.0

The direction where the sun rises

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
northeast
vscompass point
35 1.0

The direction halfway between north and east at a 45 degree angle

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
northwest
vscompass point
  • Specialized
31 1.0

The compass direction halfway between north and west

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
N
vscompass point
30 1.0

The direction on a compass that points toward the North Pole

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
southwest
vscompass point
21 1.0

The direction halfway between south and west

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
west-northwest
vscompass point
  • Specialized
2 2.5

A compass direction halfway between west and northwest

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
southward
vscompass point
2 1.9

The direction on a compass that is opposite north

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
westward
vscompass point
1 2.3

The direction toward the west on a compass

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
north-northwest
vscompass point
1 3.6

The direction halfway between north and northwest

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
eastward
vscompass point
1 1.7

The compass direction that points to the east

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
northward
vscompass point
  • Specialized
1 1.0

The direction toward the north on a compass

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
south-southwest
vscompass point
1 3.4

A direction halfway between south and southwest

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
east-southeast
vscompass point
1 3.2

The direction halfway between east and southeast, about 112.5 degrees from north

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
southwest by south
vscompass point
1 7.4

A compass direction slightly south of southwest

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
northeast by north
vscompass point
  • Specialized
1 6.7

A compass direction slightly north of northeast, about 34 degrees from east

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
east-northeast
vscompass point
1 3.4

A compass point halfway between east and northeast

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
west southwest
vscompass point
  • Specialized
1 3.0

A direction halfway between west and southwest on a compass

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
south-southeast
vscompass point
1 4.7

A compass point halfway between south and southeast

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
north-northeast
vscompass point
  • Specialized
1 4.6

The direction on a compass halfway between north and northeast, slightly east of north

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
west by south
vscompass point
  • Specialized
1 8.2

A compass direction a little south of west

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
sou'-sou'-west
vscompass point
  • Archaic
8.9

The compass point halfway between south and southwest

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
north by east
vscompass point
  • Specialized
8.1

A compass direction slightly east of north at about 11 degrees

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
northeastward
vscompass point
2.8

The direction halfway between north and east on a compass

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
compass north
vscompass point
  • Specialized
3.5

The direction the north end of a magnetic needle points toward on Earth

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
nor'-nor'-west
vscompass point
  • Archaic
9.9

A compass point halfway between north and northwest

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
nor'-east
vscompass point
  • Archaic
9.7

The compass point halfway between north and east

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
east by north
vscompass point
  • Specialized
9.1

A compass direction one point north of due east

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
southwestward
vscompass point
2.7

The direction halfway between south and west on a compass

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
northeast by east
vscompass point
  • Specialized
8.1

A compass direction one point east of northeast, halfway to east-northeast

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
northwest by north
vscompass point
  • Specialized
4.2

A compass direction slightly north of northwest

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
southeastward
vscompass point
3.4

The compass point between south and east at 135 degrees

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
southeast by east
vscompass point
7.5

A compass direction that is a little east of southeast at about 124 degrees from north

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
southeast by south
vscompass point
7.5

A compass direction slightly south of southeast, at 157.5 degrees from north

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
west by north
vscompass point
  • Specialized
6.7

A compass direction slightly north of west about 11 degrees

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
nor'-west
vscompass point
  • Archaic
8.6

The compass point halfway between north and west

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
northwestward
vscompass point
3.1

The direction halfway between north and west on a compass

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
northwest by west
vscompass point
  • Specialized
7.5

A compass direction slightly west of northwest, about 292 degrees

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
north by west
vscompass point
  • Specialized
8.1

A compass direction slightly west of north used for navigation

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
southwest by west
vscompass point
7.5

A compass direction a little west of southwest

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation
nor'-nor'-east
vscompass point
  • Archaic
9.9

A compass point between north and northeast

is the general category covering any of the thirty-two named directions used for navigation

Surface Forms

compass point singular
compass points plural

Morphology

compass + point

The meaning 'any of the directions marked on a compass' is directly and transparently derived from 'compass' (a device showing directions) combined with 'point' (a specific position/direction). This simple noun+noun composition follows common cross-linguistic patterns so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The noun compass point comes from old compass cards that were divided like slices of a pie into many small points, and each point pointed to a particular 'direction' such as north or northeast. That's why the term means a specific named 'direction' used to find your way.