compass course: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Formal
Quick answer
What does “compass course” mean?
A direction of travel, expressed in degrees relative to magnetic north, that a ship or aircraft intends to follow.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A direction of travel, expressed in degrees relative to magnetic north, that a ship or aircraft intends to follow.
A steady, planned direction or path in life, a project, or an organization; a guiding principle or objective. Often used metaphorically.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is identical in both technical use. Metaphorical use is slightly more common in American English, particularly in business contexts.
Connotations
Technical: precise, practical. Metaphorical: determined, strategic.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse. High frequency within navigation, sailing, and aviation contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “compass course” in a Sentence
The pilot set a compass course of 270 degrees.The company is steering a new compass course.to follow/plot/hold a compass course [to/towards NP]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “compass course” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They decided to compass-course their way south.
- (Note: Extremely rare as a verb, more common as a noun phrase.)
American English
- The captain had them compass-course due west.
- (Note: Extremely rare as a verb, more common as a noun phrase.)
adverb
British English
- The ship sailed compass-course steadily.
- (Note: Extremely rare as an adverb.)
American English
- They flew compass-course toward the coast.
- (Note: Extremely rare as an adverb.)
adjective
British English
- The compass-course reading was critical.
- They checked the compass-course data.
American English
- The compass-course reading was critical.
- They checked the compass-course data.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically for strategic direction. 'The board set a new compass course for the merger.'
Academic
Rare, except in history or geography regarding navigation.
Everyday
Very rare. Primarily used by sailing or aviation enthusiasts.
Technical
Core term in navigation. 'After correcting for deviation, the magnetic compass course was 045°.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “compass course”
- Using 'compass course' to mean a class on how to use a compass. (Incorrect: 'I took a compass course last summer.')
- Confusing 'compass course' (intended direction) with 'compass bearing' (direction *to* a specific point).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A 'compass course' is the direction read from the compass. A 'true course' is the direction relative to True North, corrected for magnetic variation and compass deviation.
It would sound technical or metaphorical. In everyday talk, you'd simply say 'direction' or 'path' (e.g., 'We're heading north' not 'Our compass course is 360°').
Primary stress is on the first syllable of 'compass' (/ˈkʌm.pəs/). Secondary stress is on 'course'.
Yes, it's formal and slightly literary, common in business, leadership, or motivational contexts to imply purposeful guidance.
A direction of travel, expressed in degrees relative to magnetic north, that a ship or aircraft intends to follow.
Compass course: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkʌm.pəs kɔːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkʌm.pəs kɔːrs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to steer a steady compass course”
- “to set one's compass course”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a COMPASS pointing the way on a golf COURSE. The compass gives the direction (course) to the next hole.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A VOYAGE / A PROJECT IS A SHIP. (e.g., 'We need to set a clear compass course for this initiative.')
Practice
Quiz
In a metaphorical sense, 'to set a compass course' means to: