Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In a compact or condensed manner; closely; concisely; briefly; tersely; neatly.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb In a compact manner; with close union of parts; densely; tersely.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb In a compact manner

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb with concise and precise brevity; to the point
  • adverb taking up no more space than necessary
  • adverb in a compact manner or state

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

compact +‎ -ly

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Examples

  • Motorists in compactly developed cities that have extensive transit systems can drive nearly 50% less.

    City's design, transit system can ease gas costs 2011

  • Motorists in compactly developed cities that have extensive transit systems can drive nearly 50% less.

    City's design, transit system can ease gas costs 2011

  • They came compactly, as if with discipline, while behind, disorderly, yelling confusedly, stooping to pick up rocks, were seventy-five or a hundred of the striking shopmen.

    CHAPTER IX 2010

  • The police brought out tattoo guns; dark, compactly filled trash bags; small pots growing with marijuana; and what appeared to be a chemistry set, while Mrs. Hutton bawled and her husband kicked at Jeremy.

    Hopefulness 2010

  • Hunters on South Carolina's Wateree River needed a small rugged dog compactly built for boat travel and able to retrieve on land and water.

    How To Turn Your Pup Into a Boat Dog 2009

  • "It folds so compactly it makes it an easier lift," he explained.

    Cutting Edge, for Baby Ralph Gardner Jr. 2012

  • All districts – both house and senatorial – must be drawn as compactly as possible (ignoring big water – i.e. alaska and hawaii would be contiguous to something)

    Matthew Yglesias » DC Statehood 2009

  • All districts – both house and senatorial – must be drawn as compactly as possible

    Matthew Yglesias » DC Statehood 2009

  • It's the same price as the regular DVD set though on sale you still pay a premium for BluRay and the DVDs are housed compactly and neatly in slim cases rather than the horrible packaging of the regular DVD set that fans bemoaned.

    Michael Giltz: DVDs: Arthur -- The Movie I'll Never Watch Michael Giltz 2011

  • Hunters on South Carolina's Wateree River needed a small rugged dog compactly built for boat travel and able to retrieve on land and water.

    How To Turn Your Pup Into a Boat Dog 2009

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