A compass is a navigation tool with a magnetic needle that always points toward Earth's north magnetic pole. Open a compass and watch its needle swing and settle: no matter which way you turn, that needle finds north. Once you know where north is, you can figure out south, east, and west, which means you can find your way almost anywhere.

For thousands of years before GPS and smartphones, travelers relied on compasses to cross oceans, deserts, and unmarked wilderness. A hiker lost in the woods uses a compass and map together to figure out which direction leads back to the trailhead. Sailors still keep compasses on their boats as backup navigation, even with modern electronics.

The word compass also refers to the drawing tool with two legs: one with a sharp point and one holding a pencil. This kind of compass draws perfect circles and measures distances on maps. Architects use compasses to draft precise curves in their building plans.

When someone talks about your moral compass, they mean your inner sense of right and wrong, the feeling that guides you toward good choices, just like a magnetic compass guides you toward home.