1. 赔偿;补偿
    To compensate someone for money or things that they have lost means to pay them money or give them something to replace that money or those things.

    e.g. The official promise to compensate people for the price rise clearly hadn't been worked out properly...
           显然，官方对物价上涨进行补偿的承诺没有真正兑现。
    e.g. To ease financial difficulties, farmers could be compensated for their loss of subsidies.
           为了缓解经济困难，农场主们损失的补贴会得到补偿。

2. 弥补;补偿
    If you compensate for a lack of something or for something you have done wrong, you do something to make the situation better.

    e.g. The company agreed to keep up high levels of output in order to compensate for supplies lost...
           这家公司同意保持高产量以弥补供货丢失带来的缺口。
    e.g. She would then feel guilt for her anger and compensate by doing even more for the children.
           之后她会因为自己发火而感到愧疚，会替孩子们做更多的事作为补偿。

3. 抵消
    Something that compensates for something else balances it or reduces its effects.

compensate什么意思

    e.g. MPs say it is crucial that a system is found to compensate for inflation...
           下议院的议员们说关键是要找到一种抵消通货膨胀影响的机制。
    e.g. The pluses more than compensated for the inconveniences involved in making the trip.
           各种有利因素大大抵消了出行过程中的种种不便。

4. 弥补(过失或不足)
    If you try to compensate for something that is wrong or missing in your life, you try to do something that removes or reduces the harmful effects.

compensate的解释

    e.g. People who sense that they are inferior have to compensate, and often over-compensate by way of outward achievement.
           觉得自卑的人只有通过外在的成就来弥补自己的不足，但往往都做过了头。
    e.g. No supportive words could ever compensate for the pain of being separated from her children for 10 years.
           任何表示支持的言语都无法弥补与孩子们分开10年带给她的痛苦。