Samuel,

To get the terms correctly, a turbine is spun by a moving medium. It compresses nothing, except for raising the pressure of the medium that has not yet passed through it (Pre-turbine pressure is always higher than post turbine pressure, or there would be no flow of medium.).

The fan stage in a turbofan engine "bites" air, like a model ducted fan, or a propeller would.

In a turbine engine, it is the compressor that compresses. The turbine only spins that compressor (and the fan, in a turbofan and the prop, or the rotor(s) in a turboprop, or in a turboshaft).

I was emphasizing the fact that even turbofan engine manufacturers, have resorted to fewer blades, to achieve greater efficiency. This is probably due to the fact that the wide chord blades operate in a higher Reynold's number environment.