First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
compatible
adjective com·pat·i·ble \kəm-ˈpa-tə-bəl\
: able to exist together without trouble or conflict : going together well
of devices and especially computers : able to be used together
Full Definition of COMPATIBLE
1
: capable of existing together in harmony <compatible theories> <compatible people>
2
: capable of cross-fertilizing freely or uniting vegetatively
3
: capable of forming a homogeneous mixture that neither separates nor is altered by chemical interaction
4
: capable of being used in transfusion or grafting without immunological reaction (as agglutination or tissue rejection)
5
: designed to work with another device or system without modification; especially : being a computer designed to operate in the same manner and use the same software as another computer
— com·pat·i·bil·i·ty \-ˌpa-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun
— compatible noun
— com·pat·i·ble·ness \-ˈpa-tə-bəl-nəs\ noun
— com·pat·i·bly \-blē\ adverb
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Origin of COMPATIBLE
Middle English, from Medieval Latin compatibilis, literally, sympathetic, from Late Latin compati
Related to COMPATIBLE
- Synonyms
- agreeable, amicable, harmonious, congenial, frictionless, kindred, unanimous, united
- Antonyms
- disagreeable, discordant, disharmonious, disunited, incompatible, inharmonious, uncongenial
Rhymes with COMPATIBLE
COMPATIBLY Defined for Kids
compatible
adjective com·pat·i·ble \kəm-ˈpa-tə-bəl\
Definition of COMPATIBLE for Kids
: capable of existing together in harmony
Medical Dictionary
compatible
adjective com·pat·i·ble \kəm-ˈpat-ə-bəl\
Medical Definition of COMPATIBLE
1
: capable of existing together in a satisfactory relationship (as marriage)
2
: capable of being used in transfusion or grafting without immunological reaction (as agglutination or tissue rejection) <treatment of hemophilia by transfusion of compatible blood>
3
of medications : capable of being administered jointly without interacting to produce deleterious effects or impairing their respective actions
—com·pat·i·bil·i·ty \-ˌpat-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē\ noun, plural com·pat·i·bil·i·ties
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