comp

• IPA^(key): /kɒmp/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒmp

comp (not comparable)

1. Clipping of complimentary.
   • 2019 May 8, Barney Ronay, “Liverpool’s waves of red fury and recklessness end in joyous bedlam”, in The Guardian‎:

     It will instead be Liverpool in Madrid on the first day of June for another shot at the ultimate. Presumably, Sergio Ramos, season long since over, will receive a comp ticket. These gestures all count.

2. Clipping of comparative.

   comp lit

3. Clipping of compensatory or compensating.

   comp time

   comp pay

comp (plural comps)

1. Alternative form of comp..
2. Clipping of competition.
3. (design) Clipping of comprehensive layout, a graphic design showing final proposed layout of text and images.
   • 2008, Marcia Layton Turner, Marjorie Crum, chapter 16, in The Complete Idiot's Guide to Graphic Design, Penguin, →ISBN:

     The purpose of a comp is to give your client, whether that is your boss, a committee you're on, or an outside company that has retained you for design assistance, a look at what the finished piece you've designed will look like.

4. (education) Clipping of comprehensive examination.
   • 2019, Kelly D. Harrison, Air Force Cop: An Autobiography, Dorrance Publishing, →ISBN, page 389:

     In mid-April I took my comp test at the Mather AFB education office. Two weeks later I got a letter telling me I had passed my comp test on the first try.

5. (British, education) Clipping of comprehensive school.
   • 2011, Joanna Nadin, Buttercup Mash‎, OUP Oxford, →ISBN:

     Although she got expelled from Pennington after three months and ended up at Broadmead, which is like this totally tough comp where they have to check you for weapons at the door.

6. Clipping of complimentary ticket or complimentary item.
   • 2011, Sylvester Suzuki, The Intelligent Guide to Casino Gaming, Chartley Publishing LLC, →ISBN, page 7:

     One of the truly free comps in casinos is the free drink. If you are presentably dressed and even look like you might be engaging in some form of gaming, in many casinos you can get a free drink simply by flagging down one of the cocktail waitresses that are constantly circulating throughout the casino.

7. Clipping of comparable.
8. (informal) Clipping of compensation.

   Workman's comp and disability comp help people who are injured at work.

   • 2016, Zsuzsa Berend, The Online World of Surrogacy, Berghahn Books, →ISBN, page 171:

     I'll respond to ads that mention comp if it's along the lines of someone who knows they need a surrogate with a comp in a specific range (i.e. we can do a comp of $XXXX to $XXXX)

   • 2025 July 5, Mark Chen, quotee, “AI talent wars put top staff in line for superstar salaries”, in FT Weekend, Companies & Markets, page 9:

     Chen said he and Altman were working “around the clock to talk to those with offers”, adding, “we've been more proactive than ever before, we're recalibrating comp, and we're scoping out creative ways to recognise and reward top talent”.

9. Clipping of composite.
10. Clipping of comp card.
    • 2010, Ro Martinez, Modeling at Any Age, page 81:

      If the same model has beautiful hair, white teeth, glowing skin, a fit body, good hands and legs, a great wardrobe, and a knockout comp, her value on the "bookability meter" goes sky high.

11. Clipping of composition.
    • 2013, Lavez Robinson Sr., On My Own, Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN, page 61:

      I had managed to bring up my grades in composition just before the end of my sixth grade year after Mr. Constantino, my comp teacher, called my Mother and informed her I was on the verge of flunking;

12. Clipping of compositor.
    • 1939, Modern Game Breeding and Hunting Club News:

      Charles, Va., where he worked as a comp for two years. Then back home he went to Snow Hill to produce his own weekly newspaper, the Snow Hill Advocate.

13. Clipping of comptroller (“chief accountant”).
14. (colloquial, dated) Clipping of computer, especially a desktop computer.

    Synonyms: 'puter, compy

    • 2011, J. D. Robb, Treachery in Death‎, London: Piatkus, →ISBN, page 254:

      “Okay. I was home, up, and still working. There'll be a log of that on my comp. ”

15. Clipping of compilation.
16. Clipping of computer science, especially an academic program.

    Synonym: comp sci

comp (third-person singular simple present comps, present participle comping, simple past and past participle comped)

1. (intransitive, US) To accompany, in music.
   • 2001, Charles Suhor, Jazz in New Orleans: The Postwar Years Through 1970, page 9:

     He comped lightly and then played a short phrase to begin his solo.

2. (transitive) To compose (a visual design); to make a composite.
3. (transitive) To provide (someone) with a complimentary item, such as a ticket; to provide (someone) with something for free.

   to comp him his meals

   • 2021 September 16, Sarah Naftalis, “The Casino” (6:40 from the start), in What We Do in the Shadows‎, season 3, episode 1, spoken by Sean Rinaldi (Anthony Atamanuik):

     “(grunts) Frankie put glass in the piccata and the restaurant comped us, so we got all these chips. Let's hit the casino.” “All right.” “Come on, Nadia. Let's go watch this Rat Pack show with the girls.” “Did you say "the Rat Pack"?” “Yeah, they're good.” “They're here?” “Yeah, yeah, it's the Rat Pack.” “Chips ahoy!”

4. (transitive) To provide (a complimentary item, such as a ticket) for free (either up front or sometimes by refunding the cost of it).

   The bartender decided to comp their drinks to make up for the earlier incident.

   • 2022, N. K. Jemisin, The World We Make, Orbit, page 92:

     There’s a small bar serving the suites, where all the drinks are comped.

5. Clipping of compile.

• CPOM, POMC

comp

1. (West Midlands) alternative form of kampe