1 an instrument for finding direction, with a needle that always points north 指南针；罗盘: They had to find their way back to the camp using a map and a compass. 他们得靠地图和指南针寻找返回营地的路。

2 compasses [pl] a V-shaped instrument that is used for drawing circles 圆规: a pair of compasses 一把圆规