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Small vs Compact - What's the difference?

small | compact |

In obsolete terms the difference between small and compact

is that small is to a small extent while compact is composed or made; with of.

As adjectives the difference between small and compact

is that small is not large or big; insignificant; few in numbers or size while compact is closely packed, i.e. packing much in a small space.

As nouns the difference between small and compact

is that small is any part of something that is smaller or slimmer than the rest, now usually with anatomical reference to the back while compact is an agreement or contract.

As verbs the difference between small and compact

is that small is to make little or less while compact is to make more dense; to compress.

As an adverb small

is in a small fashion.

As a proper noun Small

is {{surname}.

small

English

Adjective

(er)
  • Not large or big; insignificant; few in numbers or size.
  • * , chapter=5
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=Here, in the transept and choir, where the service was being held, one was conscious every moment of an increasing brightness; colours glowing vividly beneath the circular chandeliers, and the rows of small lights on the choristers' desks flashed and sparkled in front of the boys' faces, deep linen collars, and red neckbands.}}
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-22, volume=407, issue=8841, page=70, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Engineers of a different kind , passage=Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers. Piling debt onto companies’ balance-sheets is only a small part of what leveraged buy-outs are about, they insist. Improving the workings of the businesses they take over is just as core to their calling, if not more so. Much of their pleading is public-relations bluster.}}
  • (figuratively) Young, as a child.
  • (writing, incomparable) Minuscule or lowercase, referring to written letters.
  • Envincing little worth or ability; not large-minded; paltry; mean.
  • * Carlyle
  • A true delineation of the smallest man is capable of interesting the greatest man.
  • Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short.
  • a small space of time

    Synonyms

    * (not large or big) little, microscopic, minuscule, minute, tiny; see also * little, wee (Scottish), young * (of written letters) lowercase, minuscule

    Antonyms

    * See also * (not large or big) capital, big, generous (said of an amount of something given), large * adult, grown-up, old * (of written letters) big, capital, majuscule, uppercase

    Derived terms

    * small arm * small arms * small beer * small calorie * small-cell lung cancer * small change * small claims court * smallclothes * smaller European elm bark beetle * small forward * small fry * smallgoods * smallholder * smallholding * small hours * small intestine * smallish * small-minded * smallmouth * smallmouth bass * smallmouth black bass * smallness * small potatoes * smallpox * smalls * small-scale * small screen * small stuff * smallsword * small talk * small-time * * small wonder * twice as small * twice as small as

    Adverb

    (er)
  • In a small fashion.
  • * (William Shakespeare), (w, A Midsummer Night's Dream) , Act I, scene 2, line 49:
  • That's all one: you shall play it in a mask, and / you may speak as small as you will.
  • In or into small pieces.
  • * 2009 , Ingrid Hoffman, CBS Early Morning for September 28, 2009 (transcription)
  • That's going to go in there. We've got some chives small chopped as well.
  • (obsolete) To a small extent.
  • * (rfdate) (William Shakespeare), Sonnets , "Lucrece", line 1273
  • It small avails my mood.

    Derived terms

    * writ small

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Any part of something that is smaller or slimmer than the rest, now usually with anatomical reference to the back.
  • (UK, in the plural) Underclothes.
  • Derived terms

    * small of the back

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To make little or less.
  • To become small; to dwindle.
  • * Thomas Hardy
  • And smalled till she was nought at all.

    Statistics

    *

    compact

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An agreement or contract.
  • Synonyms
    * agreement, contract, pact, treaty

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl), from (etyl) .

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Closely packed, i.e. packing much in a small space.
  • * Isaac Newton
  • glass, crystal, gems, and other compact bodies
  • Having all necessary features fitting neatly into a small space.
  • a compact laptop computer
  • (mathematics, uncomparable, of a set in an Euclidean space) Closed and bounded.
  • A set S of real numbers is called compact if every sequence in S has a subsequence that converges to an element again contained in S.
  • (topology, uncomparable, of a set) Such that every open cover of the given set has a finite subcover.
  • Brief; close; pithy; not diffuse; not verbose.
  • a compact discourse
  • (obsolete) Joined or held together; leagued; confederated.
  • * Shakespeare
  • compact with her that's gone
  • * Peacham
  • a pipe of seven reeds, compact with wax together
  • (obsolete) Composed or made; with of .
  • * Milton
  • A wandering fire, / Compact of unctuous vapour.
    Synonyms
    * (closely packed) concentrated, dense, serried, solid, thick, tight
    Derived terms
    * compact car * compact disc * locally compact

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A small, slim folding case, often featuring a mirror, powder and a powderpuff; that fits into a woman's purse or handbag, or that slips into ones pocket.
  • A broadsheet newspaper published in the size of a tabloid but keeping its non-sensational style.
  • * 2012 , BBC News: Dundee Courier makes move to compact [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-16576612]:
  • The Dundee Courier has announced the newspaper will be relaunching as a compact later this week. Editor Richard Neville said a "brighter, bolder" paper would appear from Saturday, shrunk from broadsheet to tabloid size.

    See also

    *

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make more dense; to compress.
  • * '>citation
  • To unite or connect firmly, as in a system.
  • * Bible, Eph. iv. 16
  • The whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth.
    Synonyms
    * (make more dense) compress, condense

    Anagrams

    * English heteronyms ----