compose

verb

Saykuhm-POHZ/kəmˈpoʊz/UK/kəmˈpəʊz/AUS/kəmˈpəʉz/

Formscomposes, composing, composed

Often confused with comprise

9 meanings of compose

Practice

1
verbtransitive or intransitive
To create music, writing, or other work by thinking it out.
Like building something in your head, then putting it down on paper.
She wants to compose a song for her sister's wedding.
He composes best late at night when the house is quiet.
Similarwrite, create, pen, author, produce
Note
2
verbtransitive
To be all the parts that make up something whole.
Five players compose the whole team.
These rooms compose the oldest part of the house.
Similarconstitute, form, comprise
Note
3
verbtransitive
To make something by joining parts together.
Like making a sandwich by putting different things between two slices of bread.
You can compose a meal from whatever is in the fridge.
She composed a salad using fruit and nuts.
Similarassemble, create, construct, fashion, build
Oppositedismantle, disassemble
Note
4
verbreflexivetransitive
To make yourself or someone calm again after worry or strong feeling.
Like calming down after a scary moment until your heart slows.
Take a moment to compose yourself before you go in.
She closed her eyes and composed herself.
Similarcalm, steady, collect, settle, control
Oppositeagitate, unsettle, fluster
Note
5
verbtransitive
To arrange the parts of a photo or picture in a pleasing way.
Like arranging things on a table before you take a photo of them.
Try to compose the picture so the main subject is in view.
He composed the photo with the sunset behind them.
Similarframe, arrange
6
verbtransitive
To put things in good order or proper shape.
Like tidying a messy desk until everything has its place.
Take time to compose your ideas before you write.
She composed the messy notes into a neat list.
Similararrange, organize, prepare, order, shape
Note
7
verbtransitive
To settle an argument and bring it to a peaceful end.
The two leaders met to compose their differences and end the long fight over the land.
The neighbors composed their dispute over the fence.
Similarsettle, resolve, reconcile
Note
8
verbnonstandardtransitive
To be made up of several parts.
Like a puzzle that is made up of many pieces.
Big collections compose many rare items.
This box composes twelve smaller parts.
Similarcomprise, contain, include, encompass
Note

Less common meaning

9
verbdatedtransitive
To set up metal letters in order so a page can be printed.
Like lining up letter blocks in a row to spell out a page.
Printers used to compose each page by hand, one letter at a time.
He composed the front page with rows of metal type.
Similartypeset, set
Note

Practice

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Origin

From Old French composer, meaning to put things together. It came from Latin componere, from com- 'together' and ponere 'to put'.