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# comp

noun (a comp, comps — informal, clipped)

«comp» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (UK, Australia, informal) Short for «competition», especially one to win a prize (enter a comp). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/comp/#m1)
2. (UK, informal) Short for «comprehensive school», a state secondary school for all abilities. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/comp/#m2)
3. (informal) Short for «complimentary»: free tickets or items (comps). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/comp/#m3)
4. (informal) Short for «composition» (in music or in art and writing), or «compilation». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/comp/#m4)
5. (US, informal) Short for «compensation»: money paid to make up for a loss, like «workers' comp». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/comp/#m5)

### In the lessons

It is a clipped, informal word, so its meaning depends on the setting: in Britain and Australia, «a comp» is often a sports or prize competition; parents may say they went to «the local comp» (school); at a theatre, «comps» are free tickets. It tells the reader a longer word has been shortened.

### Examples

- I entered a drawing comp and won a book voucher. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/comp/#x1)
- She's running in the swimming comp on Saturday. (Australia) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/comp/#x2)
- Mum went to the local comp in Leeds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/comp/#x3)
- We got two comps for the show because Dad works there. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/comp/#x4)
- The band's new comp album has all their hits. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/comp/#x5)
- His dad got workers' comp after the accident. (US) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/comp/#x6)

### Note

Informal clipped form; avoid it in formal writing and say the full word. Plural: comps. Say «komp». Not a word on its own in exams: write «competition», «comprehensive school», «complimentary» or «compensation».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «comp» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/comp/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«comp» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/comp.html) on Mova free.