Step 1: Understanding compound verbs
A compound verb is a construction in which two verbs come together to express a single, unified meaning or action. It is not merely two separate actions, but a single event represented jointly. This phenomenon is very common in South Asian languages (like Hindi, Urdu, Bengali) where the first verb carries the main lexical meaning and the second verb (often called a \emph{vector verb} or \emph{light verb}) modifies the aspectual or semantic nuance.
Example (Hindi):
- "Kha liya" (eat-take) = 'ate up' (completion of action).
- "Dekh liya" (see-take) = 'saw (completely).'
Step 2: Analyzing options
- (A) \emph{two verbs with one composite meaning}: Correct. This is exactly what defines a compound verb.
- (B) \emph{two verbs used for two different events}: Incorrect, because that would just mean two separate clauses or coordinated verbs, not a compound verb.
- (C) \emph{one main verb and a modal auxiliary}: Incorrect, because modal auxiliaries (can, should, must) do not form compound verbs but auxiliary constructions.
- (D) \emph{one noun or an adjective with a verb}: Incorrect. That may form a predicate but not a compound verb.
Step 3: Conclusion
Therefore, a compound verb refers to \emph{two verbs with one composite meaning}.
\[
\boxed{\text{Correct Answer: (A)}}
\]