Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The master of ceremonies, as of a television entertainment program or a variety show.
  • intransitive verb To serve as master of ceremonies for.
  • intransitive verb To serve as the master of ceremonies.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun chiefly UK A master of ceremonies, especially for a television, variety or quiz show.
  • verb intransitive, transitive To act as compere.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun British term for someone who introduces television acts or cabarets etc
  • verb act as a master of ceremonies

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French compère, from Old French, godfather, companion, from Medieval Latin compater : Latin com-, com- + Latin pater, father; see pater.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From French compère.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word compere.

Examples

  • On the front, Mariella Frostrup, who presumably didn't have to sign a non-disclosure form for her role as an official "compere" for the leaders 'spouses, has plenty of observations from inside the tent, but there's nothing about her emotional speech about the value of education.

    BBC News | News Front Page | UK Edition 2009

  • On the front, Mariella Frostrup, who presumably didn't have to sign a non-disclosure form for her role as an official "compere" for the leaders 'spouses, has plenty of observations from inside the tent, but there's nothing about her emotional speech about the value of education.

    BBC News | News Front Page | World Edition 2009

  • And an attempt by the compere to soften the boos by insisting that we're "all friends here", an appeal that only made things worse.

    Hugh Muir's diary 2011

  • Davies pops up a lot – as a compere and on Ready Steady Go!

    Meltdown round-up – review 2011

  • Everybody's favourite air hostess, Pam Ann, will compere the main stage, and guests include Chrissy Darling hosting gay bingo, cabaret performer Dusty O, and hip-hop dance company Slum Civilians.

    This week's new events 2011

  • The bride immediately swapped her L-plate for a pair of glasses, revealed she was a lawyer, and pointed out the contract wasn't legally binding – before downing yet another sambuca and shrieking for the compere to take his top off.

    Isy Suttie: My Edinburgh 2011

  • Davies pops up a lot – as a compere and on Ready Steady Go!

    Meltdown round-up – review 2011

  • He even mimed this to delegates, presumably on the advice of conference compere and former Play School presenter Baroness Benjamin.

    Liberal Democrat conference delegates enjoy a day of living quite dangerously 2011

  • • Royal wedding news now, and wasn't it kind of Alton Towers to give the Duchess of Fergie the chance to compere its wedding coverage on April 29, especially as pointedly, and poignantly, she hasn't been invited to the much awaited love-in?

    Hugh Muir's diary 2011

  • Lest we miss the fact this is an essentially French story, Rice has also imported a roguish compere in the shape of a cabaret diva called Meow Meow, and adds a chorus of matelots in striped vests.

    The Umbrellas of Cherbourg - review 2011

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.