composition

[ kom-puh-zish-uhn ]

noun

1. the act of combining parts or elements to form a whole.
2. the resulting state or product.
3. manner of being composed; structure:

   This painting has an orderly composition.

4. makeup; constitution:

   His moral composition was impeccable.

5. an aggregate material formed from two or more substances:

   a composition of silver and tin.

6. a short essay written as a school exercise.
7. the act or process of producing a literary work.
8. an academic course for teaching the techniques of clear, expository writing.
9. the art of putting words and sentences together in accordance with the rules of grammar and rhetoric.
10. a piece of music.
11. the art of composing music.
12. Fine Arts. the organization or grouping of the different parts of a work of art so as to achieve a unified whole.
13. Grammar. the formation of compounds or derivatives:

    the composition of “aircraft” from “air” and “craft.”

14. a settlement by mutual agreement.
15. an agreement or compromise, especially one by which a creditor or group of creditors accepts partial payment from a debtor.
16. a sum of money so paid.
17. Printing.
    1. the setting up of type for printing.
    2. Also called pagination. the makeup of pages for printing.
18. Mathematics. the process of making a composite function of two given functions.

composition

/ ˌkɒmpəˈzɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of putting together or making up by combining parts or ingredients
2. something formed in this manner or the resulting state or quality; a mixture
3. the parts of which something is composed or made up; constitution
4. a work of music, art, or literature
5. the harmonious arrangement of the parts of a work of art in relation to each other and to the whole
6. a piece of writing undertaken as an academic exercise in grammatically acceptable writing; an essay
7. printing the act or technique of setting up type
8. linguistics the formation of compound words
9. logic the fallacy of inferring that the properties of the part are also true of the whole, as every member of the team has won a prize, so the team will win a prize
10. 1. a settlement by mutual consent, esp a legal agreement whereby the creditors agree to accept partial payment of a debt in full settlement
    2. the sum so agreed
11. chem the nature and proportions of the elements comprising a chemical compound

Derived Forms

• ˌcompoˈsitional, adjective

Other Words From

• compo·sition·al adjective
• compo·sition·al·ly adverb
• com·pos·i·tive [k, uh, m-, poz, -i-tiv], adjective
• com·posi·tive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of composition¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English composicioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin compositiōn-, stem of compositiō “arrangement, placement together”; equivalent to composite + -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of composition¹

C14: from Old French, from Latin compositus; see composite , -ion

Example Sentences

John Luther Adams lives up to the title of his composition, capturing an oceanic torrent of sound in an awe-inspiring performance.

From The Daily Beast

Flaubert, for instance, hated the works of Dickens: “What defective composition!”

From The Daily Beast

He described in painful detail the composition of the bars and the heavy shackles on the pad locks.

From The Daily Beast

Plus, did you know that meditation can change your brain composition — just like exercise can change your body?

From The Daily Beast

He approaches the composition of a painting rather as a theatrical director might set the scene of a play.

From The Daily Beast

He was the most distinguished representative of the English school of composition, and was knighted in 1842.

From Project Gutenberg

When he plays a sonata it is as if the composition rose from the dead and stood transfigured before you.

From Project Gutenberg

Of writing he knew little and the art of composition appeared very difficult.

From Project Gutenberg

The countess-dowager was not very adroit at spelling and composition, whether French or English, as you observe.

From Project Gutenberg

Tausig, in my opinion, did possess exceptional genius in composition, though he left but few works behind him to attest it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• arrangement
• concerto
• drama
• melody
• music
• piece
• poetry
• setup
• symphony
• theme
• tune
• writing