comprise
[ kuhm-prahyz ]
/ kəmˈpraɪz /
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verb (used with object), com·prised, com·pris·ing.
to include or contain: The Soviet Union comprised several socialist republics.
to consist of; be composed of: The advisory board comprises six members.
to form or constitute: Seminars and lectures comprised the day's activities.
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Idioms about comprise
be comprised of, to consist of; be composed of: The sales network is comprised of independent outlets and chain stores.
Origin of comprise
1400–50; late Middle English comprisen, from Middle French compris (past participle of comprendre), from Latin comprehēnsus; see comprehension
synonym study for comprise
1. See include.
historical usage of comprise
Comprise has had an interesting history of sense development. In addition to its original senses, dating from the 15th century, “to include” and “to consist of ” ( The United States of America comprises 50 states ), comprise has had since the late 18th century the meaning “to form or constitute” ( Fifty states comprise the United States of America ). Since the late 19th century it has also been used in passive constructions with a sense synonymous with that of one of its original meanings “to consist of, be composed of ”: The United States of America is comprised of 50 states. These later uses are often criticized, but they occur with increasing frequency even in formal speech and writing.
OTHER WORDS FROM comprise
com·pris·a·ble, adjectivecom·pris·al, nounWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH comprise
compose, comprise (see usage note at the current entry)Words nearby comprise
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use comprise in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for comprise
comprise
/ (kəmˈpraɪz) /
verb (tr)
to include; contain
to constitute the whole of; consist ofher singing comprised the entertainment
Derived forms of comprise
comprisable, adjectivecomprisal, nounWord Origin for comprise
C15: from French compris included, understood, from comprendre to comprehend
usage for comprise
The use of of after comprise should be avoided: the library comprises (not comprises of) 500 000 books and manuscripts
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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