Compound is a word with multiple meanings depending on the context:
1. In chemistry, a compound refers to a substance formed when two or more chemical elements are chemically bonded together.
2. In linguistics, a compound is a word that consists of more than one stem.
3. In finance, compound interest means interest calculated on the initial principal and also on the accumulated interest of previous periods.
4. As a verb, to compound means to make something bad become worse.
5. In architecture, a compound is an area that contains a group of buildings.