compás

compass

noun kohm-PAHS Rare

Origin: From Old French compas, ultimately from Latin com- + passus (step).

Also means

beat (music)

Usage Note

Compás carries two main senses: a drawing compass (the instrument with two legs) and musical beat or measure. In music, llevar el compás means 'to keep time'. The written accent on the final -s marks the oxytone stress. Plural is compases.

Examples

"El músico perdió el compás durante el concierto."

Natural Translation

The musician lost the beat during the concert.

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