com•pen•sateˈkɒm pənˌseɪt(v.)-sat•ed, -sat•ing.

1. (v.t.)to recompense for something; pay:

   Let me compensate you for your trouble.

2. to counterbalance; offset; make up for:

   He compensated his homeliness with personal charm.

3. to counterbalance (a mechanical force), as by adjusting a mechanism to offset variations or produce equilibrium.

   Category: Mechanics

4. (v.i.)to provide or be an equivalent; make up; make amends (usu. fol. by for):

   Apologies will not compensate for this damage.

5. to develop or employ mechanisms of psychological compensation.

   Category: Psychology

Origin of compensate:

1640–50; < L compēnsātus, ptp. of compēnsāre to counterbalance, offset = com- com - + pēnsāre to weigh out, freq. of pendere to weigh

com•pen•sa•to•rykəmˈpɛn səˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i; ˈkɒm pənˌseɪ tɪv, kəmˈpɛn sə-(adj.)