compás

Compás is a term used in Spanish and Portuguese with multiple related meanings in different fields. In music, it denotes the metrical unit of a composition—the grouping of beats defined by the time signature—and, in some traditions, the broader rhythmic cycle that organizes a performance. The word is commonly used to refer to both the bar or measure in Western notation and to the underlying pulse or tempo of a piece.

In Western music notation, a compás is the unit between bar lines, whose length is determined by the time signature. The time signature indicates how many beats are in each compás and what value constitutes a beat (for example, 4/4 means four quarter-note beats per compás). The concept helps musicians coordinate rhythm, phrasing, and ensemble timing. In certain musical traditions, especially flamenco, compás extends beyond a simple measure to describe a repeating rhythmic cycle that guides singing, guitar, and dance.

Compás can also refer to the drawing instrument known in English as a compass. This tool consists of two legs joined by a hinge and is used to draw circles and arcs or to transfer measurements in geometry, drafting, and engineering.

Etymologically, compás conveys the idea of balancing, measuring, or regulating time and space. The term is widely used in musicology, pedagogy, and technical contexts to describe rhythm, meter, or the drawing instrument, depending on the regional and disciplinary context.