# compilation

/ˌkɑmpəˈɫeɪʃən/ (US) · /kˌɒmpɪlˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/compilation
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. a collection of items

noun · CEFR B2

a book, CD, or list that is made by putting together different pieces of information or music.

For teachers: a work, such as a book or record, composed of materials gathered from various sources. Countable in this sense.

- The band released a compilation of their greatest hits from the last ten years.
- The editor spent months working on a compilation of nineteenth-century poetry, selecting only the most influential works from that era.

### 2. the act of gathering

noun · CEFR B2

the process of collecting information or items from different places to create something new.

For teachers: the act or process of compiling or gathering together from various sources. Often uncountable.

- The compilation of the annual report took the team several weeks of hard work.
- The compilation of such a massive database required the cooperation of several international research departments over a five-year period.

### 3. computing process

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the process where a computer turns instructions written by a person into a language the machine can understand.

For teachers: the translation of source code into object code or machine language by a compiler.

- The program failed during compilation because of a small error in the code.
- Optimising the compilation process can significantly reduce the time it takes for the software to execute complex mathematical functions.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the general process.

## Examples

- She released a compilation of her greatest hits.
- The research team published a compilation of all the data they gathered during the five-year study.
- The anthology serves as a comprehensive compilation of early twentieth-century poetry, featuring both celebrated masters and obscure voices that had been lost to time.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.