compose

[kuhm-pohz]

verb (used with object)

composed, composing 

1. to make or form by combining things, parts, or elements.

   He composed his speech from many research notes.

2. to be or constitute a part or element of.

   a rich sauce composed of many ingredients.

3. to make up or form the basis of.

   Style composes the essence of good writing.

4. to put or dispose in proper form or order.

   to compose laws into a coherent system.

5. Art.,  to organize the parts or elements of (a picture or the like).

6. to create (a musical, literary, or choreographic work).

7. to end or settle (a quarrel, dispute, etc.).

   The union and management composed their differences.

8. to bring (oneself, one's mind, etc.) to a condition of calmness, repose, etc.; calm; quiet.

   Synonyms: collect, settle

9. Printing.

   1. to set (type).

   2. to set type for (an article, book, etc.).

verb (used without object)

composed, composing 

1. to engage in composition, especially musical composition.

2. to enter into composition; fall into an arrangement.

   a scene that composes well.

compose

/ kəmˈpəʊz /

verb

1. to put together or make up by combining; put in proper order

2. to be the component elements of

3. to produce or create (a musical or literary work)

4. (intr) to write music

5. to calm (someone, esp oneself); make quiet

6. to adjust or settle (a quarrel, etc)

7. to order the elements of (a painting, sculpture, etc); design

8. printing to set up (type)

Other Word Forms

• composable adjective
• uncomposable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of compose¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Middle French word composer. See com-, pose ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of compose¹

C15: from Old French composer, from Latin compōnere to put in place; see _component

Example Sentences

Sciver-Brunt is the quiet, composed captain who lets her cricket do the talking - exemplified by a sparkling 117 against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Saturday.

Read more on BBC

It is composed of Latinos, a Black college-bound overachiever, a barely literate country boy and an aggressive goon who chose the Marines over a prison sentence.

Read more on Salon

Harris’s pictures have much the same subjects as those taken by the unidentified photographers, but they are composed better, and he used a professional Speed Graphic camera so they have more detail.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In an earlier analysis, the researchers in Bern constructed investment portfolios that were composed of the 15 top-scoring companies in all of the Drucker Institute rankings categories, except for financial strength.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Hill explained how local producers can raise better-quality, fatter fish by switching to protein-packed American soybean meal as feed, rather than using the traditional, cheaper “fish meal,” composed of ground-up smaller fish.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• conceive 
• design 
• devise 
• form 
• invent 
• orchestrate 
• pen 
• produce 
• set up 
• write