Definition of: compensate

(kom′pən·sāt) v. ·sat·ed, ·sat·ing v.t.
1. To make suitable amends to or for; requite; remunerate.
2. To counterbalance or make up for; offset.
3. To stabilize the purchasing power of (a monetary unit) by varying gold content to counteract price fluctuations.
4. Mech. To provide with a counterbalancing or neutralizing device, as for a variation.
—v.i.
5. To make returns or amends; serve as an equivalent or substitute. See synonyms under PAY, REQUITE. [<L compensatus, pp. of compensare <com- together + pensare, freq. of pendere weigh]
—com·pen·sa·tive (kəm·pen′sə·tiv), com·pen·sa·to·ry (kəm·pen′·sə·tôr′ē, -tō′rē) adjective