Kompass

compass

noun KOM-pahs Less Common

Origin: from Italian compasso

Usage Note

Kompass is the navigation instrument with a magnetic needle. The plural is usually Kompasse; hikers say den Kompass ablesen (to read the compass) to find their bearing in unfamiliar terrain.

Examples

"Ohne Kompass hätten wir uns im Wald verirrt."

Natural Translation

Without a compass we would have gotten lost in the forest.

Literal Translation

Without compass had we us in-the forest lost.

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