compromise

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A settlement of differences in which each side makes concessions.
2. n. The result of such a settlement.
3. n. Something that combines qualities or elements of different things: The incongruous design is a compromise between high tech and early American.
4. n. A concession to something detrimental or pejorative: a compromise of morality.
5. v. To arrive at a settlement by making concessions.
6. v. To reduce the quality, value, or degree of something.
7. v. To expose or make liable to danger, suspicion, or disrepute: a secret mission that was compromised and had to be abandoned; compromise one's standing in the community.
8. v. To reduce in quality, value, or degree; weaken or lower.
9. v. To impair by disease or injury: an immune system that was compromised by a virus.
10. v. To settle by mutual concessions: a dispute that was compromised.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. In civil law, a mutual promise or contract of two parties in controversy to refer their differences to the decision of arbitrators.
2. n. A settlement of differences by mutual concessions; an agreement or compact adopted as the means of superseding an undetermined controversy; a bargain or arrangement involving mutual concessions; figuratively, a combination of two rival systems, principles, etc., in which a part of each is sacrificed to make the combination possible.
3. n. That which results from, or is founded on, such an agreement or settlement, as a specific arrangement, a course of conduct, or an institution; a medium between two rival courses, plans, etc.: as, his conduct was a compromise between his pride and his poverty.
4. n. A thing partaking of and blending the qualities, forms, or uses of two other and different things: as, a mule is a compromise between a horse and an ass; a sofa is a compromise between a chair and a bed.
5. To adjust or compound by a compromise; settle or reconcile by mutual concessions.
6. To bind by bargain or agreement; mutually pledge.
7. To expose to risk or hazard, or to serious consequences, as of suspicion or scandal, by some act or declaration; prejudice; endanger the reputation or the interests of: often used reflexively: as, he compromised himself by his rash statements.
8. To make a compromise; agree by concession; come to terms.

Wiktionary

1. n. The settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions.
2. n. A committal to something derogatory or objectionable; a prejudicial concession; a surrender; as, a compromise of character or right.
3. v. intransitive To bind by mutual agreement.
4. v. intransitive To find a way between extremes.
5. v. transitive To cause impairment of.
6. v. transitive To breach a security system.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. obsolete A mutual agreement to refer matters in dispute to the decision of arbitrators.
2. n. A settlement by arbitration or by mutual consent reached by concession on both sides; a reciprocal abatement of extreme demands or rights, resulting in an agreement.
3. n. A committal to something derogatory or objectionable; a prejudicial concession; a surrender.
4. v. obsolete To bind by mutual agreement; to agree.
5. v. To adjust and settle by mutual concessions; to compound.
6. v. To pledge by some act or declaration; to endanger the life, reputation, etc., of, by some act which can not be recalled; to expose to suspicion.
7. v. obsolete To agree; to accord.
8. v. To make concession for conciliation and peace.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. settle by concession
2. v. expose or make liable to danger, suspicion, or disrepute
3. n. an accommodation in which both sides make concessions
4. n. a middle way between two extremes
5. v. make a compromise; arrive at a compromise