compound
/ˈkɒm.paʊnd/(noun)
AWL Sublist 5CEFR B2IELTS Band 7.0 - 9.0
Academic Definition
A thing that is composed of two or more separate elements; a chemical substance; to make something bad worse.
Key Academic Collocations
Click to copyWord Family & Derivatives
compoundcompoundedcompoundingcompounds
Lexical Alternatives (Synonyms)
aggregateblendamalgamexacerbate (as verb)worsen
Academic Sample Sentences in Context
"Escalating fuel prices served to compound the economic difficulties already afflicting small-scale agricultural producers."
"The flow chart illustrates how natural chemical compounds extracted from seaweed are synthesized into biodegradable bioplastics."
"Ignoring initial infrastructure damage will merely compound municipal repair expenses over subsequent fiscal years."
IELTS Examiner Scoring Strategy (Lexical Resource)
As a verb: 'compound the problem' is an elite Band 8 alternative to 'make the problem worse'.