The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word SPHERE
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
S
P
H
E
R
E
More clues leading to the result SPHERE
- Our place next to the middle of Shakespeare's Globe
- Field of activity some pursue primarily in this place
- Class take this after dope
- Odds at this point offering a round figure
- Species present in region of interest
- Drunken spree involving end of posh ball
- Without children present, you have a ball!
- Compass indicating location of bookie?
- Field ball
- Circle globe
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Compass" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case compass = sphere.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SPHERE mean?
SPHERE noun- A regular three-dimensional object in which every cross-section is a circle; the figure described by the revolution of a circle about its diameter .
- A spherical physical object; a globe or ball.
- The apparent outer limit of space; the edge of the heavens, imagined as a hollow globe within which celestial bodies appear to be embedded.
- Any of the concentric hollow transparent globes formerly believed to rotate around the Earth, and which carried the heavenly bodies; there were originally believed to be eight, and later nine and ten; friction between them was thought to cause a harmonious sound (the music of the spheres).
- An area of activity for a planet; or by extension, an area of influence for a god, hero etc.
- The region in which something or someone is active; one's province, domain.
- The set of all points in three-dimensional Euclidean space (or n-dimensional space, in topology) that are a fixed distance from a fixed point .
- The extension of a general conception, or the totality of the individuals or species to which it may be applied.
- To place in a sphere, or among the spheres; to ensphere.
- To make round or spherical; to perfect.