Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Binary \Bi"na*ry\, a. [L. binarius, fr. bini two by two, two at
a time, fr. root of bis twice; akin to E. two: cf. F.
binaire.]
Compounded or consisting of two things or parts;
characterized by two (things).
{Binary arithmetic}, that in which numbers are expressed
according to the binary scale, or in which two figures
only, 0 and 1, are used, in lieu of ten; the cipher
multiplying everything by two, as in common arithmetic by
ten. Thus, 1 is one; 10 is two; 11 is three; 100 is four,
etc. --Davies & Peck.
{Binary compound} (Chem.), a compound of two elements, or of
an element and a compound performing the function of an
element, or of two compounds performing the function of
elements.
{Binary logarithms}, a system of logarithms devised by Euler
for facilitating musical calculations, in which 1 is the
logarithm of 2, instead of 10, as in the common
logarithms, and the modulus 1.442695 instead of .43429448.
{Binary measure} (Mus.), measure divisible by two or four;
common time.
{Binary nomenclature} (Nat. Hist.), nomenclature in which the
names designate both genus and species.
{Binary scale} (Arith.), a uniform scale of notation whose
ratio is two.
{Binary star} (Astron.), a double star whose members have a
revolution round their common center of gravity.
{Binary theory} (Chem.), the theory that all chemical
compounds consist of two constituents of opposite and
unlike qualities.
Compound \Com"pound\, n.
1. That which is compounded or formed by the union or mixture
of elements ingredients, or parts; a combination of
simples; a compound word; the result of composition.
--Shak.
Rare compound of oddity, frolic, and fun.
--Goldsmith.
When the word ``bishopric'' was first made, it was
made as a compound. --Earle.
2. (Chem.) A union of two or more ingredients in definite
proportions by weight, so combined as to form a distinct
substance; as, water is a compound of oxygen and hydrogen.
Note: Every definite chemical compound always contains the
same elements, united in the same proportions by
weight, and with the same internal arrangement.
{Binary compound} (Chem.). See under {Binary}.
{Carbon compounds} (Chem.). See under {Carbon}.
Source : WordNet®
binary compound
n : chemical compound composed of only two elements