1 [with object] give (someone) something, typically money, in recognition of loss, suffering, or injury incurred; recompense:payments were made to farmers to compensate them for cuts in subsidies
pay (someone) for work performed:he will be richly compensated for his efforts
2 [no object] (compensate for) reduce or counteract (something unwelcome or unpleasant) by exerting an opposite force or effect:the manager is hoping for victory to compensate for the team’s dismal league campaign
act so as to neutralize or correct (a deficiency or abnormality in a physical property or effect):the output voltage rises, compensating for the original fall
